Know Your Family Health History

Why Knowing Your Family’s Health History is Important to Heart Health in the Community

Because some types of cardiovascular conditions are inherited, it’s important to know your family’s health history in order to get a clearer picture of your risk of heart disease. Create a family tree of at least the last three generations. When you know your inherited risk factors, you can make lifestyle changes to reduce them.

This lesson explains how:

  • Knowing your family’s health history is important to your heart health.
  • You can learn more about your risk of heart disease from your family’s health history.
  • A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of heart disease.

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Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: Feb 7, 2023

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