What heart conditions have family members been diagnosed with?
Proper names are best. Some examples include: • Aneurysm of a major blood vessel such as the aorta or in the brain • Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) • Bypass surgery of a blocked artery in the heart or legs • Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease or an enlarged heart) • Coronary artery disease • Diabetes • Died young or suddenly • Fainting episodes • Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) • Heart attack • Heart failure • Heart transplant • High blood pressure (hypertension) • High cholesterol • Stroke or mini-stroke • Sudden infant death syndrome How old were they when they were diagnosed? Is the family member a twin (identical or fraternal)? Remember, your doctor may not be familiar with your family members. So it’s also very helpful to provide information including each person’s sex, age, ancestry (German, Moroccan, Japanese, etc.) and whether they’re living or deceased. For those who are deceased, include how old they were when they died. Turning Information into Action Even th
