Home > Miocardial infarction genetic factors for heart attack.

NB: The following information is given in good faith, but should not be construed as a definitive guide to heart problems. If you think there is any possibility that you are having a heart attack, consult a qualified medical practitioner immediately!

Miocardial Infarction Genetic Factors for Heart Attack.

We often develop an interest in fitness and exercise because we have seen the effect of an unhealthy lifestyle on other people's health. Where the people we observe are relatives, there is an added interest as the health risks experienced by an individual may be influenced by their genetic heritage.

There is the possibility that a person can inherit their body shape from their parents. Factors such as

BMI (Body Mass Index) over 30
gender (males generally have a higher incidence)
the presence of greater amounts of visceral fat (fat interspersed throughout the inner abdominal organs)

can all play a part in our predisposition to Miocardial Infarction or heart attack.

Genetic and Social Factors in the Occurrence of Miocardial Infarction

The parents of an MI patient need to be examined also, as one or both parents could have had either diagnosed or undiagnosed type 2 Diabetes. The patient’s underlying cholesterol level would be a product of his genetic history.

McPherson et al (2007), showed that a sequence of DNA on chromosome 9 can be attributed to MIs in 20% of people of European origin. Its presence highlights people at risk of early heart attack.
Genetic factors have also been shown to influence thrombotic and bleeding outcomes following treatment for MI, and can be a major contributor to complications associated with treatment (Shields et al. 2002).

Socio-cultural background and career choice could be an important factor in determining someone’s health and risk of having a miocardial infarction, MI or heart attack. Men from predominantly working-class backgrounds are more likely to have poor dietary patterns due to lack of money to purchase better quality foods, or lack of education on what is healthy and what foods should be consumed in moderation. So called ‘office’ jobs present with a inherent risk of their own. The sedentary lifestyle associated with these jobs could lead to a greater likelihood of weight gain from the lack of exercise and the possible poor faculties in the workplace leading to a reliance on convenience foods.

References

McPherson R, Pertsemlidis A, Kavaslar N, et al. A common allele on chromosome 9 associated with coronary heart disease.
Science 2007; DOI:10.1126/science.1142447.

D C Shields, A P Fitzgerald, P A O'Neill, C Muckian, D Kenny, B Moran, C P Cannon, C E Byrne and D J Fitzgerald
The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2002) 2, 182?190