Pathway Genomics Corporation DNA Conversation Starter: "Can Heart Disease Be Inherited?"

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--You may not suffer from any form of heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, but you could have a predisposition for these conditions based on more than just your lifestyle or diet. A family history of diabetes, gout, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol can increase one’s risk regardless of lifestyle. Race is also a factor. African Americans, for example, have elevated risk of developing high blood pressure, which increases their chance of developing heart disease and stroke. However, neither lifestyle, family history, nor race represent a guarantee that you will or will not be afflicted.