It is not uncommon to have one or more family members suffering from a certain form of heart disease. However, some people may not even know that they have heart disease until they undergo a heart attack or stroke or are diagnosed with heart failure.
Despite the prevalence of heart disease, many people do not know how genetics can affect heart disease and, above all, what they can do to reduce their risk.
Heart disease is a wide term which describes several conditions affecting the structure and function of the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary diseases, generally caused by the accumulation of plaque in and around the walls of the artery on the heart.
Other types include heart valve disease, cardiac muscle disease or cardiomyopathy, conditions involving the heart system or congenital heart disease. Exact symptoms depend on the type and severity of the disease.