Should I Get Tested If There Is A History Of Heart Attacks In My Family?

— -- Question: Should I get tested if I have a family history of heart attack?

Answer: A family history is something your doctor will ask you about, particularly if he finds out that someone in your family has premature coronary disease.

By that I mean a brother or sister who developed heart disease at a young age, or your father or your mother might have had heart disease at an early age.

We know, for instance, that cholesterol is a potential risk factor for coronary artery disease. If your father had high cholesterol, you run a 50-50 chance of also having high cholesterol.

So family history is very important to assess as one of the risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Next: What Is A Calcium CT Screening Test And When Should It Be Done?

Previous: If I Have No Symptoms, What Kinds Of Screening Tests Should I Have To Determine If I Have Heart Disease?