Q. What role does family history play as it relates to contracting cardiovascular disease?
SK: Family history is a major determinant of cardiovascular disease. Awareness of that history is important. Ask about prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease in your family. Beginning to test for these things as early as age 35 is a good idea. That includes testing your levels of cholesterol and glucose and even having your eyes tested.
Q. How can pre-existing conditions impact the likelihood of having heart disease?
SK: African American patients tend to have very aggressive hypertension, which is a significant risk factor, along with high cholesterol. African Americans also tend to develop kidney damage and suffer from strokes more often than the general population.
If you are diabetic, you are at higher risk for heart disease, since diabetes impairs blood circulation. This causes skin breakdown and can lead to amputations. It’s also worth noting that African Americans generally take a higher number of medications, which can increase risk factors.