Fox Cities News

Understanding one's family history of heart disease is crucial, according to Dr. Ameer Kabour, a Cardiologist and Medical Director of ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care. During American Heart Month, Dr. Kabour emphasizes the importance of knowing family medical backgrounds and sharing this information with healthcare providers.

“When it comes to heart disease, family history could be the most important risk factor to consider,” said Dr. Kabour. He encourages individuals to gather comprehensive health histories from both sides of their families, including details about parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles.

Dr. Kabour advises people to document any heart-related diseases or conditions that relatives have experienced, noting ages at diagnosis or treatment. “Keep this information up to date, and let your providers know about any changes,” he stated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides tools for tracking family health history and recommends informing healthcare providers if close relatives have had conditions such as angina, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, aortic aneurism, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis, heart attacks or surgeries like bypass surgery or angioplasty, high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or pacemakers.

Despite genetic predispositions to heart disease in some families, Dr. Kabour highlights that individuals can reduce their risk through lifestyle changes and management of medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. “Many people who have a family history of early heart attacks also have other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity,” he noted.

Dr. Kabour recommends regular exercise as per the American Heart Association's guidelines: 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity. He also stresses the importance of reducing sedentary behavior by taking breaks every hour for movement.

Dietary improvements are another key strategy for reducing heart disease risk. The American Heart Association suggests consuming minimally processed foods with low added sugars; a variety of vegetables and fruits; whole grains; healthy proteins; low-fat dairy; lean meats; little salt; non-tropical vegetable oils; and limited alcohol intake.

“Of course, if you’re a smoker," Dr. Kabour advised "the best thing you can do for your heart is to quit now.” Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease compared to non-smokers.

Dr. Kabour encourages those with a family history of heart disease not to live in fear but rather use this knowledge as motivation for making healthier choices: “People with a family history of heart disease don’t have to live in fear... Knowing and heeding your family history can give you the information you need to start on a healthy path early on.”