Is High Cholesterol in Your DNA? 3 Common Types of Inherited Cardiac Disorders

If your family has a history of heart problems, you might wonder if these issues are inherited. Scientists now know that many common heart disorders can run in families. But what does this mean for you? Should you consider genetic testing to find out if you're at higher risk for high cholesterol or a heart attack?

What Is an Inherited Cardiac Disorder?

If your family has a history of heart problems, you might wonder if these issues are inherited. Scientists now know that many common heart disorders can run in families. But what does this mean for you? Should you consider genetic testing to find out if you're at higher risk for high cholesterol or a heart attack?

1. Inherited heart-rhythm disorders. These disorders affect how the heart beats. A genetic issue may cause the heart to beat too slowly or too quickly. Examples include long QT syndrome (LQTS), Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), and progressive cardiac conduction defect (PCCD).
2. Inherited cardiomyopathies. A gene defect can make the heart muscle weak or thick, affecting how the heart contracts. This can lead to conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
3. Inherited cholesterol problems. While most high cholesterol cases are not genetic, some are due to a specific gene mutation, familial hypercholesterolemia, which runs in families.

How Are Inherited Cardiac Disorders Diagnosed?

Because certain heart disorders are hereditary, you may think that genetic testing holds the key to diagnosis and treatment. In most cases, however, that's not how it works.

The most important piece of the diagnostic puzzle may lie in your family history. Ask your parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters about any health problems, then tell your doctor about conditions that show up in multiple family members. You don't need to dig deep: Doctors often discount disease processes that occurred more than two generations ago because medicine and lifestyle were so different then, so you can safely start with a recent history and go from there.

Your doctor will use a combination of your family medical history and modern diagnostic tools to determine whether you have an inherited cardiac disorder. Genetic heart rhythm disorders are diagnosed using an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) test, and inherited cardiomyopathies may be diagnosed using minimally invasive methods such as echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization to view the structure of the organ. If high cholesterol runs in your family and doesn’t improve with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, it’s likely hereditary and may not need further testing.

Early Diagnosis Can Save Your Life

Because some genetic heart problems can cause sudden death, early diagnosis is crucial. If your family exhibits a history of heart problems, be sure to provide your doctor (and your children's pediatrician) with a solid family history. When inherited cardiac disorders are diagnosed early, they can be treated or monitored. These early interventions may help you live a long, healthy life, no matter what your DNA says.