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Inherited heart conditions may go unnoticed
Heart conditions are hereditary in some families. Understanding your genetic risk can help you make important decisions about screening, monitoring, and care.
Understanding Hereditary Heart Conditions
Some heart conditions are hereditary and linked to inherited gene changes (mutations) that affect how the heart works. People who inherit these mutations are born with them and have a higher risk for certain heart conditions. The specific condition and level of risk vary depending on the genes and mutations involved.
Hereditary heart conditions include cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, and familial hypercholesterolemia. Some may not cause symptoms but can carry serious risks, including sudden death. Understanding genetic risk can help support earlier screening, heart monitoring, and specialized care to help manage these risks.
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Could a Hereditary Heart Condition Run In Your Family?
Hereditary Heart Condition Risk Checklist
No risk factors selected.
Based on your current answers, you may not have the typical risk indicators for a hereditary heart condition. If you have any concerns, speak with your healthcare provider — they may have additional reasons to consider testing.
Based on your responses, you may want to consider speaking with your healthcare provider about hereditary cancer genetic testing.
If your responses indicate that you may be at-risk for hereditary cancer, there are important next steps to take.
Not everyone who has a risk will necessarily go on to develop disease. Ambry’s genetic testing and counseling supports you and your healthcare provider in determining the best plan of action moving forward.*
*Your healthcare provider may identify other reasons why it may be beneficial for you to pursue genetic testing.
Recognize the Symptoms
Understanding your family history and genetic risk for inherited heart conditions can support decisions about earlier medical screening, heart monitoring, and specialized care before symptoms start.
What Your Result Actually Means
Negative
A negative genetic test result can be reassuring, but personal and family medical history still affect heart disease risk. Discuss next steps with your healthcare provider.
Genetic testing may still be appropriate for other family members to consider, depending on their medical histories.
Positive
A positive genetic test result confirms a higher risk for certain heart conditions. Specific medical care, heart monitoring, or treatment recommendations may be based on the gene and mutation involved.
Close family members may also carry the same mutation. Genetic testing may be appropriate for them to consider.
VUS
VUS = Variant of Uncertain Significance. Until more is understood about the science, medical care and heart screening decisions should be based on a person’s personal and family history.
These test results can change over time as scientific knowledge grows. Ambry’s Patient for Life program monitors test results over time — if science advances, your healthcare provider will be notified.
