Finding out that a parent has a heart condition can be unsettling. You may feel worried, unsure what questions to ask, or concerned about what this means for your own health.
At Harlem Cardiology, Dr. Henock Saint-Jacques and his team of experts care for people with a wide variety of heart conditions, including heart failure, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. We also help families navigate these diagnoses.
While every situation is different, here are a few key things that can help you feel more informed.
“Heart issue” can mean many different things. It may involve heart rhythm problems, blocked arteries, heart failure, valve disease, or high blood pressure. Each condition has its own causes, risks, and treatments.
Ask your parent what their diagnosis is, what symptoms led to it, and what treatment plan their doctor recommended.
It’s also common for people to have more than one heart-related condition. For example, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, which is why understanding the full picture matters.
Some heart conditions come with warning signs that should never be ignored. Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, leg swelling, or sudden fatigue can all signal a problem.
If your parent experiences new or worsening symptoms, encourage them to contact their cardiologist or seek urgent care when needed.
Many heart conditions have a genetic component. If your parent has heart disease, high cholesterol, or certain rhythm disorders, your own risk may be higher. According to research published in Heart Views, your risk of cardiovascular disease is about 75% higher if your father had premature heart disease and about 60% higher if your mother did.
This doesn’t mean you will develop the same condition as your parent, but it does mean you should be proactive.
Even when a heart condition isn’t strictly genetic, having a shared lifestyle and environment can still influence your heart health. Families often eat similar foods, have similar activity levels, and share daily habits.
If your shared family meals are high in sugar or highly processed foods, for example, they can increase the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes for people in your family. In that way, your environment helps shape your heart health just as much as your genes.
Share your family history and lifestyle habits with Dr. Saint-Jacques so he can recommend the appropriate heart screenings and/or lifestyle changes.
You can’t change genetics, but you can influence many heart health risk factors. Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle benefits both you and your parent.
This includes regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, stress management, adequate sleep, and no tobacco.
You could:
Making heart-healthy changes together not only supports your parents’ care but also helps protect your own heart. Making changes together turns healthy habits into shared routines rather than burdens.
Heart conditions often require ongoing care: medications, follow-up visits, and regular monitoring. That’s because some conditions, like high blood pressure, don’t cause noticeable symptoms.
You can help by encouraging your parent to keep their appointments, take medications as prescribed, and ask questions during visits.
It’s normal to wonder what your parent’s diagnosis means for you. If you have concerns about your heart health, schedule an evaluation here at Harlem Cardiology in East Harlem, New York City.
Early screening and guidance from Dr. Saint-Jacques can provide the peace of mind you need. Your heart screenings can also catch issues before they become serious.
At Harlem Cardiology, our team helps patients and their families navigate heart conditions with clear guidance and compassionate care.
If you have questions about family history or your own heart health, scheduling a visit can be an important first step. You can also reach us at 646-381-2181.
