Latest Healthy Tip: Take Any Opportunity to Exercise

Is coronary heart disease hereditary?

Heart disease does seem to run in some families. If your parents or grandparents have a history of high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, or are overweight, then there is greater chance that you will have these same heart disease risk factors.

Also, if close family members (parents, grandparents, siblings) have suffered heart attacks before the age of around 50, this also increases your heart disease risk. Although we cannot change our family history, modifications can always be made in diet, exercise, stress management, and other lifestyle factors that affect heart disease risk.