It is not unusual to have one or more family members with some form of heart disease. Nonetheless, some people may not even know they have heart disease until they experience a heart attack or stroke or are diagnosed with heart failure.
Despite the prevalence of heart disease, many people are unclear about how genetics can affect heart disease and, most importantly, what they can do to lower their risk.
Heart disease is a broad term that describes several conditions affecting the heart’s structure and function. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease, typically caused by plaque build-up in and around the artery walls on the heart.
Other types include heart valve disease, heart muscle disease or cardiomyopathy, conditions involving the heart’s electrical system, or congenital heart disease. The exact symptoms depend on the type and severity of the disease.