Heart Disease In The News

Family history may be most important risk factor
January 31, 2001

A new study suggests that people who have either sibs or parents with coronary artery disease have an increased risk of developing the disease themselves, even if other risk factors (such as cholesterol levels) are normal.

Using positron emission tomography (PET - a technique available in only a few centers, and which can often detect very early coronary artery disease), 50% of individuals with a family history of coronary artery disease, but with no symptoms themselves, had evidence of early atherosclerosis.  This high incidence of early coronary artery disease was present whether or not these individuals had increased cholesterol levels.

This study suggests that people with a family history of coronary artery disease need to be especially cautious about controlling ALL of the risk factors that they can control - such as smoking, obesity, exercise, diet and cholesterol.  

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