How to reduce heart disease risk despite my family history?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am an 18-year-old female. My grandmother, her parents, and two of her brothers, as well as my father, all died before the age of 50 because of a heart attack. Do I have a higher risk of dying of a heart attack before the age of 50?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

First of all, I would like to tell you that a strong family history of heart disease or heart attack does not place you at a higher risk at all. So please do not worry about it.

Now, medically, heart diseases do have some level of genetic inheritance, but nobody can assure you the same about heart attacks. Heart attacks occur due to various causes related to all systems of the body. So inheritance does not play any role here.

I can assure you that if you follow a strict diet routine along with 30 to 45 minutes of exercise or workout a day, including your cardio exercises, then you will be fine. You are not at all at higher risk, and if you follow this routine with your BMI (body mass index) under 24 kg/m2, then you will never be at higher risk.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.