Genetic Testing for Coronary Artery Disease

According to the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, it is not possible to do genetic testing for heart disease. While some genetics tests may indicate elevated risk, there is no way to genetically test for heart disease itself.

Identification

• Heart disease is caused by the build-up of fats in the coronary arteries. When the build-up becomes too dense, the proper amount of blood does not reach the heart, causing a heart attack.

Significance

• According to Coriell, some variants on genetic testing can indicate whether you are at an elevated risk for heart disease, but cannot give a concrete answer about your specific chances of a heart attack.

Potential

• According to the European Society of Cardiologists, scientists believe there is a precise genetic variant that predicts heart disease but still have not been able to isolate it.

Benefits

• Since genetic testing has helped doctors isolate genetic variants for type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, there is hope to find one that indicates heart disease, according to the European Society of Cardiologists.

Considerations

• Being overweight and having an elevated cholesterol level are currently the best indicators for potential heart disease. By adding regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, you significantly lower your risk of a heart attack.