By Staff Writer
Heart diseases are dangerous. They can be life-threatening if not treated properly. All heart diseases require immediate treatment; otherwise, they may lead to severe ailments and even death. You might be wondering, can heart disease be inherited? Here we will discuss everything you need to know regarding inherited heart disease.
What is an Inherited Heart Condition?
Inherited heart disease is a heart condition that passes on through families. These conditions are sometimes also called genetic heart conditions or inherited cardiac conditions. Inherited heart conditions affect people of all ages. If they are left untreated, they can lead to the death of an individual.
What Causes an Inherited Heart Condition?
Our body consists of trillions of cells. Each cell possesses a nucleus that contains the information, making it unique. All of us have around 20000 to 25000 different types of genes. These genes have a significant impact on our appearance and the functioning of our bodies. Inherited heart conditions occur due to a fault or mutation in any of these genes. This mutation may occur either in one or more genes.
If one of your parents has a faulty gene, there is a high probability (50:50) that you can have it too. And if you get it, there is the same degree of possibility that you may pass it on to your children. If the condition that affects the parent is heart disease, then it could be passed from parent to child.
You may or may not develop any signs or symptoms of the disease itself. However, even if you do not have the condition, you may pass the faulty genes to your children without knowing it.
Symptoms of Inherited Heart Condition
If you have an inherited condition, you may or may not experience any symptoms. Some of the symptoms of an inherited heart condition are:
- Blackouts
- Dizzy spells
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
Unfortunately, the first indication of inherited heart disease for many families is the sudden death of a family member with no apparent cause. This condition is known as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).
Diagnosing an Inherited Heart Condition
Diagnosing an inherited heart condition can be difficult. The doctor will look for the following things, among others:
- If any of your family members has an inherited heart condition
- Your family has a history of cardiac arrests or premature deaths
- The sufferer has been diagnosed with angina or has had a heart attack at a young age.
Consider seeing a specialist for a checkup – ensure you do not also have heart disease. The specialist will conduct tests to check for faulty genes inherited from your family. This kind of genetic testing is called cascade testing.
Treatment for an Inherited Heart Condition
Different types of inherited conditions require different kinds of treatments. Depending on your situation, the specialist will explain the proper treatment.
Generally, the treatment includes:
- Changing your lifestyle
- Medication
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
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