It seems that some people may have a tendency toward heart disease or fatty buildups in arteries and this may be an inherited trait. So, children with parents with heart and blood vessel diseases may be more likely to develop them.  Equally true of African Americans.  They have higher risk of developing high blood pressure and thus makes their risk of heart disease and stroke greater.

A family history of diabetes, gout, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol also increases the risk of heart disease.

By why?  What makes one person or family or race more susceptible to an illness such as heart disease or diabetes?

A number of genes have been reported to be associated with heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in large population-based studies. However, the impact of each individual gene on an individual person is not fully understood.

A person with a congenital heart defect is slightly more likely than the general public to have a baby with a congenital heart defect. Researchers are now identifying genes responsible for causing some of these defects.

Even though you can’t change your genetic makeup, you can reduce your risk by adopting a healthier lifestyle that includes physical activity, a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco.

Become proactive by learning about your family history by asking questions, asking questions at family gatherings, and looking at family medical records, if possible. Try to learn about the medical history of your grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, siblings, and children. You should try to find out if there were any major medical conditions that caused deaths, the age that people in the family contracted diseases and age of resultant death and ethnic background.

Share your newly-discovered family history information with your doctor and your doctor will assess your disease risk, recommend lifestyle changes to help prevent disease, and prescribe laboratory or clinical tests to detect disease early.

Once you become aware that you may have inherited genes that make you at great risk of heart disease or high blood pressure, take immediate steps to change your lifestyle.  You may not be able to eradicate the gene, but you can be as proactive as possible and control your lifestyle, diet and exercise.  Better food habits can help you reduce your risk for heart attacks or coronary disease.  A healthful eating plan means choosing the right foods to eat and preparing foods in a healthy way.  Managing your weight can reduce your risk for heart attacks.  Engaging in any form of rigorous exercise, on a consistent basis, such as swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, dancing, walking and any number of activities can help your health.  Regardless of whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds to a healthy heart.