Inherited Diseases are medical conditions passed through family members at birth. They are caused by the mutation of the DNA, leading to deviation of the biological functions intended for the genes. They affect people of any age and may be fatal.
Some heart diseases can be contracted through genetic predisposition. In most cases, they are non-gender bias or autosomal dominant and can cause heart failure or cardiac arrest. Offspring derive their genes from parents. Depending on whether they are of dominant or recessive genes, some features can be easily spotted while others may remain concealed. These features include physical appearances and in some cases diseases and other conditions.
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The mutation can be neutral and have no effect, they can also prove helpful or may at times cause disease. Other than genetic predisposition, one should rule out the possibility of exposure to environmental factors and chemicals in a shared setting before concluding that theirs is a case of genetic predisposition. This is because mutations can also be caused by outside factors like radiation or indirect genetic predisposition for unhealthy behavior such as alcohol and tobacco consumption (Pavel, 2003) . Some lifestyle choices and related conditions can also lead to heart diseases, these may include smoking, diet, and lack of exercise among others. Heart diseases are normally associated with diabetes, obesity and other conditions relating to lifestyle. (WHO, 2002)
One may possess the defective gene but not show symptoms, whereas the said person can still transfer the gene to his children. The major signs and symptoms of heart diseases include chest pains, tightness or discomfort – which is the most common sign of heart danger; pain that spreads to the arm – especially the left side; shortness of breath and relatively easy to tire; dizzy spells; fast and irregular heartbeat; palpitations and blackouts. Some of these symptoms might indicate other problems that are not heart-related, but in some situations, they significantly point to heart disease. This is especially true when one is of advanced age (60 or older), overweight, has diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Sadly most people only notice the presence of inherited heart disease after the sudden death of a family member.
After interviews and research. I realized my grandmother passed from a massive heart attack and my uncle has had three (3) heart attacks so far, hence my focus on heart disease.
Many cardiac diseases can be hereditary all other things held constant. Heart diseases are common as a result of hardening and blockage of the arteries also known as atherosclerosis. The groups of disorders of the cardiovascular system are: -
chromosomal conditions
Single gene or Mendelian disorders
Polygenic / Multifactorial complex disease
Mitochondrial disorders
Though these conditions predominantly manifest themselves in adults, there are rare cases where genetic disorders elevate blood cholesterol so high that it can trigger heart attacks in teenagers. While some are a single gene, most are polygenic or multifactorial complex. This is because changes are in a number of different genes. 67 different sites in the DNA sequence have been identified, these sequences are also called variants. One can possess zero, one or two copies of any variants, the more of these variants one has the higher his/her risk of heart disease. (Havard Health Publishing, 2017) . Not all heart diseases are from the heart, some are within the blood vessels hence the collective reference to such diseases as cardiovascular diseases, conditions or disorders.
For the future generations, I would advise them to take annual screening tests to check their predisposition to heart diseases. Over and above this, they should watch their diet to ensure they limit their intake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (Bad) cholesterol. If they have to take alcohol, they are advised to moderate their consumption of alcohol to benefit from the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (Good) cholesterol it gives. They should also exercise regularly and avoid smoking. Some basic things like salt intake should be approached cautiously, this is especially because unchecked salts can lead to increased blood pressure. Checking this aspect of their diet becomes even more critical given some foods already contain high salt levels. Extra caution should also be exercised when considering red meat. Alternatives like chicken, fish, and turkey are preferable. Stress is also a factor in managing heart diseases. Stress can cause angina or even heart disease.
References
Havard Health Publishing. Havard Heart Letter . Retrieved from Havard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-genetics-of-heart-disease-an-update. Accessed November 18, 2018.
Pavel, H.. Genetic determinants of the dynamics and kinetics of alcohol. Journal of Hypertension.2003. (21), 1077-1078.
World Health Organization. World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, promoting healthy life. 2002. Geneva: WHO.
