hi my dad had his 1st massive heart attack at 38 what's my chances of inheriting it he's 61 know and near last stages of heart failure

[goldy76]

he's had 5way bypass 3 cardiac arrests a defib fitted and is helping with research with a device he also has fitted called nectar i turned 38 today and starting to worry already

[MikePollard]

Hard to say unless you know if genes are a factor. However, even if it is a hereditary issue this doesn't necessarily mean you are heading down the same road.

It is my firm position that the most powerful intervention we can make is diet - the alternative is powerful and crude intervention via drugs and surgery - and that is not the way to optimum health, as your father sadly demonstrates.

I would suggest you research the whole issue of the cholesterol hypothesis, and if you think it a lot of nonsense (bearing in mind half the people who have heart attacks have normal or below current 'guidelines'!) then change a highly inflammatory diet consisting of 'whole grain goodness' and healthy industrial processed seed oils to that of our ancestors.

Start here:

dietdoctor.com/lchf

[patch14]

I can understand your concerns but worrying is not the best thing to do! Stress is a contributory factor in high Blood Pressure and other related problems. The first thing to do is to go to your GP and ask for a full MOT on your health. Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Levels, Weight/Height Ratio, Exercise, Diet. The last two are the most important things to consider when watching your health. Things have moved on apace recently with fuller understanding of Cholesterol and its advantages, how a low carb/sugar diet is the way to go with an avoidance of convenience foods, fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are the priority in the diet. Exercise, not necessarily an hour in the gym every night, but walking daily, swimming if you enjoy it, running if you must, but it must be fun because this way your body reacts favourably to your endorphins and you begin to lower your BP and your body will be able to cope better with stress. I wish you well.

[fenbadger]

Visit your GP. The evidence is NOT CERTAIN. If a family member has had one ,then you're more likely to. It doesn't mean you will, it doesn't mean you wont. You can of course mitigate by a healthy lifestyle but even that's no guarantee. Don't wind yourself up worrying, go and see someone now, worry will most certainly not help.

[cleocat]

I can understand your apprehension. I lost my father to a massive heart attack when he was only 54. I have spent a large part of my life worrying about this happening to me. I have reached the good age of 68 and as you can see, I'm still here! Take care of yourself, keep active and have a good healthy eating regime. By the way, I am the youngest of five children and my 3 siblings are all alive and kicking ( I lost one sibling to cancer). Don't waste your life worrying, enjoy living.

[hairyfairy]

I know how scary it is to have heart disease in the family. My mother developed angina in her early 40`s, & the experts go on about the heredity of heart disease. Every twinge near the heart had me panicking, & I`ve had numerous tests over the years, but I`m ok so far.

[YvonneD]

Lots of good advice there from others on the forum but, to answer your question, "IF your father carries a faulty gene which makes his cholesterol levels high (condition known as Familial Hypercholesterolaemia - FH) then you have a 50/50 chance of inheriting this gene. If you have inherited it then, any children you may have will also have a 50/50 chance of inheriting. The good news is that if you, or they, have not inherited, they cannot pass on this gene. The other good news is that, in this day and age, your GP will know all about FH and will be be to treat you, if you have inherited. I hope he would then get you to tell all your blood relatives - aunts, uncles, cousins etc so that they too can be advised to get there cholesterol levels checked. If you want more information then I recommend you contact HEART UK, the cholesterol charity that was started by patients with this condition.

I was there almost thirty years ago at the start of that patient organisation; I have FH; I am still alive and very well. So - no need to worry.