Can Genetic Testing Predict My Heart Health?

In the area of cardiovascular health, we have two primary concerns: First, it’s the leading cause of death in the United States, with someone dying every 36 seconds due to a heart-related condition. Second, many of the issues that fall under “heart disease” don’t have any symptoms, leaving you unaware of your risks for a serious event like a heart attack or stroke.

While we certainly don’t have a crystal ball when it comes to your cardiovascular health, Dr. Scott Lafferty and our team here at Lafferty Family Care offer cardiac prevention assessments, which includes genetic testing.

Here’s a look at whether genetic testing may be appropriate for evaluating your risks for cardiovascular disease.

All in the family

Genetic testing for cardiovascular disease, as the name implies, allows us to check for certain markers or mutations in your genes, which are passed down through your family. 

According to the American Heart Association, certain cardiovascular conditions may have a genetic component, including:

• Cardiomyopathy
• Arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation
• Thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections
• Hypercholesterolemia

When deciding whether to recommend genetic testing, we generally look to the following criteria:

• A history of premature cardiovascular disease in your immediate family
• Women under the age of 60 who have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• Anyone under the age of 60 with severe single-risk abnormalities
• Patients under 60 who are at risk and who aren’t candidates for medications

If you have a detailed family history that goes back three generations or more that shows a history of cardiovascular disease, this may also be a situation in which you might consider genetic testing.

What your genes can tell us

At our practice, we use genetic testing to determine your risks for cardiovascular disease, as well as whether certain treatments will be effective. 

To give you a better idea about what we’re referring to, here’s a breakdown of what genetic testing can tell us with certain genotypes:

• KIF6 genotype, which can reveal your risk for heart disease and whether you’ll respond well to statins or combination therapy
• SLCO1B1 genotype, which is tied to myopathy while taking certain statins
• CYP2C19 genotype to determine whether Plavix® will work for you as a treatment
• LPA, or aspirin genotype, which points toward a higher risk of heart attack (aspirin can lower your risks if you’re a carrier)
• 4q25-AF genotype, which places you at higher risk for atrial fibrillation
• LPA-Intron 25 genotype, the carriers of which are at a higher risk of heart disease
• 9p21 risk genotype – carriers are at a higher risk of a heart attack (before the age of 60 for women and age 50 for men), abdominal aortic aneurysm, or blocked coronary arteries
• APoE genotype, which reveals how you respond to dietary fats and whether you’re at a greater risk of heart disease

It’s important to note that being a carrier of some of the above genotypes does not necessarily mean that you, too, will develop the problem, but it certainly places you at higher risk. In fact, one of our main goals through genetic testing is to identify your risks so that we can take the necessary steps to prevent irreversible heart disease or a life-threatening complication like heart attack or stroke.

If you’d like to explore whether genetic testing can help you stay one step ahead of cardiovascular disease, please contact our office in Bentonville, Arkansas, to set up a consultation.