Inherited heart disease

While you can’t control the genes you’re born with, you can take control in how they affect your life. If you’re diagnosed with a genetic heart condition, we’ll help you and your family members understand the risks and what you can do about them.

Our specialists are among the most experienced in the Midwest in detecting and treating all types of hereditary heart disease. We’re here to help you – and your loved ones – live life to the fullest.

What is inherited heart disease?

Unlike conditions tied to aging or lifestyle, inherited heart diseases (sometimes called familial or genetic heart diseases) are passed on through your parent’s genes. These heart issues are hereditary.

If you have an inherited heart disease, we’ll care for you with compassion and nationally recognized clinical excellence – and offer genetic testing and advanced diagnosis to your entire family. This helps your loved ones prevent possible serious complications from developing, giving everyone peace of mind now and for the future.

Understanding the types of hereditary heart disease

There are many kinds of inherited heart diseases that can run in families. The most common include:

• Bicuspid aortic valve disease, when your heart valve has only two flaps instead of three, causing it to leak or narrow
• Cardiomyopathy, in which your heart muscle becomes enlarged, thick or stiff. This includes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can cause cardiac arrest in younger people, especially young athletes.
• Marfan syndrome, which damages the connective tissues in your heart and blood vessels, making you more prone to aneurysms
• Arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, including Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• Cardiac amyloidosis, where your heart builds up protein deposits that make it harder to pump
• Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can cause an aortic aneurysm

Inherited heart disease symptoms

Signs of genetic heart disease can vary and depend on the specific condition. It’s important to see a doctor if you or one of your family members are experiencing any symptoms.

These symptoms can include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting (syncope)
• Fatigue or inability to exercise
• Heart palpitations, a feeling like your heart is fluttering or has skipped a beat
• Shortness of breath

Hereditary heart disease diagnosis

To diagnose an inherited heart disease, we’ll start with a thorough physical exam, and ask about your family history and any symptoms you’re having.

Genetic testing for heart disease

If you have signs of an inherited condition, we’ll likely recommend genetic testing. Our genetic counselors will work with you every step of the way and ensure you understand your test results.

If we detect a gene mutation that’s related to the disease, we may recommend your immediate family members get tested, too. This helps loved ones know if they might be at risk and get care as early as possible. We also may recommend yearly screenings to help prevent potential problems.

Diagnostic testing for cardiovascular disease

To check your heart function and rule out other cardiovascular conditions, we may order diagnostic tests. These tests may include:

• Echocardiogram, a heart ultrasound such as a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to see images of your heart’s valves and other structures
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart’s electrical activity
• Radiographic imaging, such as CT scan or cardiac MRI, to see a picture of your heart
• Stress test to see how your heart functions when it’s working hard
• Cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure to examine the internal structures of your heart

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Inherited heart disease treatment

If you’re diagnosed with an inherited heart disease, we’ll help you and your family understand all the treatments available. And if you need a surgical procedure, our specialists are experts in minimally invasive techniques to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

To manage a hereditary heart disease, we may recommend one or more treatments. Your care plan will depend on your condition, but may include:

• Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss or exercise to help prevent or minimize the effects of heart disease
• Healthy living, like avoiding smoking, alcohol, caffeine and high-fat foods to improve your health
• Medication to help regulate the way your heart works or minimize the chance of blood clots
• Cardiovascular surgery to repair or replace damaged valves, vessels or other parts of your heart.
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a device that automatically corrects arrhythmia