Familial Heart Diseases
Family History One of Most Important Risk Factors
Family history is one of the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis. Many studies have found a two-to-threefold increase in risk for coronary artery disease in those with a first-degree relative with the condition.
Arrhythmias
At the same time, there are a number of arrhythmias -- conditions involving irregular heartbeats -- that are congenital in nature. These include:
Cardiomyopathy
In addition, several types of cardiomyopathy -- a disease of the heart muscle -- also run in families. These include:
