Should you get genetic testing for heart disease?

Coronary heart disease tends to run in families, though staying healthyreduces your risk. Certain inherited heart conditions are more dangerous as they develop in young people regardless of lifestyle, areasymptomatic and can cause sudden cardiac death.

• Causes of sudden cardiac death include Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome and pre-excitation syndrome.
• All involve genetic and/or structural abnormalities that lead to potentially fatal alternations in heart rhythm. Unfortunately, they are rarely diagnosed prior to a crisis.

• If your family history shows one of the ailments mentioned above, you might consider speaking with a genetic counselor about being tested.
• You can find one through the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors, or through the National Society of Genetic Counselors or American Board of Genetic Counselors if you're in the United States.

• If your doctor tells you that you have a moderate or high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, he or she may various recommendations to try to lower your risk level.
• Some of these include: improving your diet, doing more exercise, setting a target for weight loss and cutting down on stress.
• If you smoke, cutting down or quitting will be your top priority — enlist your doctor's help to find therapy or medication to help you quit. All of these measures will also help to lower your blood pressure.

• If you are at high risk — that is, you have a 20 per cent or greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease over the next ten years — you may be prescribed statins to reduce cholesterol levels and/or drugs to reduce blood pressure or treat diabetes.
• With proper treatment you will be able to keep your treatment on target and perhaps be able to reduce or discontinue your medication eventually.