Genetic Healthcare for Cardiovascular Conditions
Cardiovascular genetic counseling and testing may help you identify hereditary risk factors for heart disease, so you and your doctors can develop personalized screening and prevention plans.
When to Consider Counseling & Testing
Cardiovascular genetic counseling and testing may benefit you if you have a personal or family history of:
- Nonischemic cardiomyopathies
- Arrythmias (heart rhythm disorders)
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections
- Familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
- Family history of sudden cardiac death, especially under age 50
Collect Your Family History
We encourage you to collect your family’s cardiovascular health history for the following people:
- First-degree relatives: parents, children, and siblings
- Second-degree relatives: grandparents, aunts, and uncles
For each family member with cardiovascular health history, note the following information:
- Diagnosis of each cardiovascular condition
- Age of the person when diagnosed
Your Results
If your results indicate that you are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, that means your family members may be, too.
Your genetic counselor will provide information to help your family members decide whether they should pursue genetic counseling and testing.
