When people talk about heart disease, they often discuss obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. The relationship between genetics and heart disease may not be discussed as often, but it truly is a significant risk factor as well.

It’s a scary truth, but recent research indicates that certain heart conditions are genetic and that genetic factors could increase the risk of coronary artery disease by as much as 60%.

Here’s the good news: Even though genetics and heart disease are related, it does not mean getting heart disease is inevitable.

In fact, if you know you are at risk due to genetic factors, you can be proactive to protect yourself. Doing so includes knowing and recognizing the signs and symptoms of existing heart conditions, which include:

• Poor circulation in the legs
• Frequent pain in the chest, neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back
• Shortness of breath not apparently due to respiratory conditions such as asthma

When you couple genetics with environmental and lifestyle factors, the risk for heart disease increases. These risk factors include:

• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• High bad cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Smoking, drinking, or drug use

According to Dr. Mouhammed Joumaa of Cardiology Associates of Michigan, early detection of heart disease is the first step toward a better quality of life for patients. A brief, simple diagnostic test can identify problems you may have, and you can then set up a healthcare plan with a heart doctor to treat your current conditions and prevent future complications.

If you know that heart disease runs in your family or are experiencing signs of heart disease, contact Cardiology Associates of Michigan to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist by calling (833) 229-0187.

The test results may even show that you are in fantastic health, which will put your mind at ease more than you know.