It’s not just a man’s disease. While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States according to the CDC, and fewer women than men survive their first heart attack according to AHA.

 

Many cardiac disorders can be inherited, including:

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• Arrhythmias,

• Congenital heart disease,
• Cardiomyopathy,

• High blood cholesterol

 

Coronary artery disease leading to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure can run in families, indicating genetic risk factors inherited from your mother and father. If you know about your risk ahead of time, you may be able to get ahead of the problem, before it causes symptoms or becomes dangerous. 

 

Our Cardio Dx Hereditary DNA assessment examines well-established cardiovascular disease genes for the purpose of identifying likely pathogenic variants (mutations) associated with hereditary cardiovascular conditions. When such a variant (or mutation) is inherited, development of symptoms is more likely.  Cardiovascular diseases tested for include, but are not limited to cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, vascular & amp; connective tissue diseases, and congenital heart disease. This test is designed for individuals with a personal and/or family history of cardiovascular disease to help establish or confirm a diagnosis, assess risks, or guided management.

 

Each of the conditions tested for is considered clinically actionable. Potential treatment options for some of the tested conditions include frequent screenings, medication, enzyme replacement therapy, implantable devices, surgery, and lifestyle recommendations.  The complete assessment provides results that are very comprehensive which will allow your healthcare provider to determine a protocol, if required, that can mitigate or even prevent certain symptoms from happening. 

Some Common Cardiovascular Diseases that May be Hereditary.

 

Cardiomyopathy- Every day your heart pumps the equivalent of 2,000 gallons of blood throughout your body and creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles!  It’s no wonder the heart is the most important muscle in the body. But certain conditions can affect how well it works. Weakening or disease of your heart muscle is called cardiomyopathy and occurs in the lower chambers of the heart called ventricular cardiomyopathy.
 

Arrhythmias- A cardiac arrhythmia is any abnormal heart rate or rhythm. Tachycardia is a common type of arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) that occurs when the heart beats too fast while at rest. An adult's heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times per minute at rest. Tachycardia is. a heart rate over 100 beats per minute. In some cases, tachycardia doesn't cause any complications. In other cases, however, untreated tachycardia can cause serious complications, such as stroke, heart failure, or death.

 

Congenital Heart Disease- Congenital heart disease or defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. The defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart, and the arteries and veins near the heart. They can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. The blood flow can slow down, go in the wrong direction or to the wrong place, or be blocked completely.
 

Vascular and Connective tissues Disease- significantly affects the aorta which is exposed to. high shear stress, or pressure from the constant flow of blood. The aorta is a very well designed pipe that must convert chaotic flow into an organized stream. Two sites of chaos exist in the aorta. The first is at the aortic root, where blood shoots out of the heart, and if the strength layer of the aorta is dysfunctional, the stress might internally break the aorta (a type A Dissection). The second site of chaos is at the end of the aortic arch, where blood must loop around and head. downwards to supply blood to the abdomen and legs. The aorta may tear at this juncture as well. a so called (type B Dissection). Many patients do not know that they may have this possibly inherited condition. Type A dissection is the more dangerous form, but chances of survival are. significantly improved with early detection and management.