Understanding Your Genetic Risk: Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Your Family?

A healthy heart goes a long way in leading a long and fulfilling life. However, heart disease remains a leading health concern worldwide, impacting various lives each year. While a healthy lifestyle is vital for prevention, various heart diseases are linked to genetics. Innovations in medical technology have transformed how we see heart health and understand various ailments connected to it, providing patients with more effective treatment options than ever before.

One heart condition that affects many and may be linked to genetics is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), where one or more of the heart’s chambers become enlarged and weakened, reducing its ability to pump blood efficiently. Though DCM can result from lifestyle factors like high blood pressure or alcohol use, genetics often play a role. Understanding the risk of DCM and taking proactive steps can significantly impact heart health.

What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?

DCM affects the heart’s main pumping chamber—the left ventricle—causing it to stretch, dilate, and weaken. Over time, this can lead to heart failure if untreated. Inherited genetic mutations can affect individuals with DCM, and your chances of developing it may be higher if you have a family member with the condition.

Knowing Your Genetic Risk

Since DCM can have a hereditary component, it’s essential to examine your family’s health history. A parent or sibling with DCM increases the likelihood of other family members being affected. It is recommended to have genetic counseling or testing if there’s a family history of heart disease. These options help assess individual risk and identify any mutations that may be passed on to future generations.

Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Risk

Even with a genetic predisposition, certain lifestyle adjustments can lower the overall risk or help manage DCM. Here are a few tips:

• Heart-Healthy Diet: Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, and low in salt can help maintain blood pressure and reduce stress on the heart.

• Exercise Regularly, But Wisely: Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular strength. For those at risk, moderate activities like walking, cycling, or swimming can be beneficial.
• Limit Alcohol Intake: Alcohol can strain the heart and worsen symptoms of DCM. Reducing or avoiding alcohol can decrease heart workload, especially for those with a family history of cardiomyopathy.
• Manage Stress Effectively: Chronic stress can affect heart function and therefore, practicing stress-relieving activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga is beneficial.
• Monitor Your Health Regularly: Regular check-ups and heart screenings help catch symptoms early. This is especially important if you have a genetic predisposition. Tracking your blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rate over time can help with early diagnosis and management.

Looking forward

Taking proactive steps is a powerful way to safeguard heart health. By understanding the individual risk factors—including genetic predispositions—one can gain the knowledge needed to make informed lifestyle choices that can significantly lower the likelihood of developing conditions like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Authored by Dr Govind Desai, Interventional Pulmonologist, HCG Suchirayu Hospital, Hubli