It is essential that your medical provider be aware of any history in your family of heart disease. A tendency toward heart disease or atherosclerosis seems to be hereditary. That means children of parents with cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop it themselves. For example, the famed marathoner Jim Fixx, who died of a heart attack at age 52 while jogging, was the son of a man felled by heart disease when he was 43. Even this superb athlete's physical conditioning couldn't overcome his genetic destiny.
Race is a consideration, too.
African-Americans have moderate high blood pressure twice as often as whites and severe hypertension three times as often. As a consequence their risk of heart disease is greater. Belo Interactive Inc., All Rights Reserved.