From the Guidelines
Having a father who died of a heart attack increases your risk of having a heart attack by approximately 1.5 to 1.7 times compared to someone without this family history. This risk is independent of classical CHD risk factors, as stated in the European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice 1. The actual percentage of having a heart attack cannot be pinpointed to a single definitive number since heart disease risk is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. However, if the average lifetime risk of a heart attack is considered to be around 20%, having a father who died of a heart attack could potentially increase this risk to approximately 30-40%.
Key factors that influence this risk include:
- The number of first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) with a history of coronary heart disease (CHD)
- The age at which these relatives developed CHD, with earlier onset indicating a higher risk
- The presence of other CHD risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and obesity
To mitigate this increased risk, it is crucial to:
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises per week), and avoidance of smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption and manage stress effectively
- Undergo regular medical check-ups to monitor and manage blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels
- Consider medications such as statins, aspirin, or blood pressure medications if recommended by a healthcare provider based on an individual's overall risk profile, as suggested by guidelines like those from the European Society of Cardiology 1.
Genetic factors can influence how the body processes cholesterol, regulates blood pressure, and responds to inflammation, but shared environmental factors within families also play a significant role in the development of heart disease. Therefore, understanding and addressing these factors is essential for reducing the risk of heart attack in individuals with a family history of CHD.
From the Research
Risk of Heart Attack based on Family History
- The risk of having a heart attack is influenced by various factors, including family history 2.
- A study published in the European Heart Journal found that men who reported their father had died from "heart trouble" were at twice the risk of a major ischemic heart disease event compared to men whose fathers were still alive 2.
- The same study found that the risk was 1.5 times higher for men who reported their father had died from "heart trouble" compared to men who reported their father had died from another or unknown cause 2.
- However, the study did not provide a specific percentage of having a heart attack if the father dies of heart attack.
Factors Influencing Heart Attack Risk
- Other studies have investigated the role of medications such as aspirin, ACE inhibitors, and statins in reducing the risk of heart attack 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These studies suggest that the use of these medications can reduce the risk of heart attack, but they do not provide information on the specific risk of heart attack based on family history.
- The risk of heart attack is also influenced by other factors such as age, systolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and serum HDL-cholesterol 2.
Limitations of Available Evidence
- The available evidence does not provide a clear answer to the question of what percentage of people will have a heart attack if their father dies of heart attack.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between family history and heart attack risk.