Take Control of Risk Factors to Prevent Heart Attacks

In the realm of heart health, understanding one’s family history can be a critical piece of the prevention puzzle.

“The key phrase to keep in mind is ‘risk factor modification,’” said Dr. Stacy Brewington, a cardiologist at Tennessee Heart at Cookeville Regional. “Some
risk factors are adjustable, and some are not. You can’t really adjust your genetics, your age or your sex, but those are all risk factors to think about.”

For individuals with a family history of premature coronary artery disease, vigilance is paramount. This includes having a father or brother who developed heart disease before age 55, or a mother or sister who did before 65. Dr. Brewington notes that such individuals face a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease at a younger age, sometimes due to genetic cholesterol abnormalities. In fact, cholesterol management plays a crucial role in mitigating heart attack risk even for those who are not genetically predisposed. Fortunately, effective treatment is available.

“The benefit of statins is very strong in heart attack risk reduction and stroke prevention,” said Dr. Brewington. “It’s one of the only things that’s ever been shown to actually reverse blockages.”

Beyond genetics, numerous risk factors can be modified to significantly decrease the likelihood of heart attacks. Dr. Brewington emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and adopting a heart-healthy diet. According to the American Heart Association, optimizing these factors can reduce the risk of a heart attack by up to 90%. And, in recent years, sleep apnea has emerged as a newer modifiable risk factor.

“We now know that treating sleep apnea lowers the risk of heart rhythm abnormalities and is associated with a reduction in heart attack, stroke, heart failure, heart rhythm problems and even dementia,” said Dr. Brewington.

Because many of the risk factors can be controlled or modified, it’s important to discuss them with your physician, do what you can to lower your risk, and seek genetic testing if recommended.

“If someone’s mother or father has a definitive diagnosis of a genetic abnormality, then it would likely benefit their offspring to start thinking about that at a younger age and to know that maybe that’s an extra-good reason not to smoke or to keep the body weight and blood pressure down,” said Dr. Brewington.