Page 2 - Kadlec Regional Medical Center | Healthy Heart | February 2013
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M
aybe your mother had
a stroke or your father
had a heart attack. Or
possibly one of your
grandparents had diabetes. While
you have probably answered those
questions while filling out a health
information form or two, have you
really spent much time thinking
about your health history and how it
may affect your health?
It can have a big impact on
both the risk for heart disease
and stroke. While you may not be
able to change your family’s health
history, there are things you can do
to help shape your own.
“When asked if family history
plays a role in heart disease,”
said Kadlec Clinic geriatric nurse
practitioner Wendy Hull, “I explain
that researching and knowing
your family’s health history is an
important step in controlling your
ALL IN THE
risk for heart disease.”
Risk factors, she said, are often
inherited. When someone knows
which ones run in the family, the
person can target those for which
they are at the highest risk and
create health strategies to deal with
these risks.
“When assessing your genetic
basis for heart disease, using the
classic ‘5 W’s’ is a great place to
start,” she said.
■■
Who in your family has heart
disease?
■■
What kind of heart disease have
your relatives been diagnosed with?
■■
When were your family members
diagnosed with heart disease?
■■
Where in the world does your
family come from?
■■
Why are your family members
developing heart disease?
“Our family tree provides a story of
the environment and genetics,” said
Hull, “but just because your family
has a history of cardiovascular
disease, it does not mean that
you will certainly have the same
diseases; it just means that you are
more likely to have them.
“If you have heart disease
in your family, it would be
beneficial for you to have a good,
thorough physical to determine if
you have active heart problems.
Your primary care provider
can help you make important
changes, including how to
exercise more and appropriately
with your present health status,
how to eat a heart-healthy diet,
important information about
your weight, help with quitting
smoking and offer advice for
reducing stress in our lives.”
Oftentimes, said Hull, it will
take the whole family unit to be
on board to help family members
with these changes — and doing
it together — to benefit the whole
family and change that family
history in a heart-healthy way.
“Children tend to stop getting
well-child checkups around the
junior high age,” according to
Kevin Marsh, MD, medical director,
Kadlec Pediatric Hospitalist Service.
“It is really important to continue
throughout life, even during the
adolescent years.”
During these well-adolescent visits,
said Dr. Marsh, the primary care
physician can check blood pressure
and cholesterol and monitor your
child’s weight. If an issue is detected,
the provider can begin addressing it
early in the child’s life.
If you don’t have a primary care
provider, Kadlec Health System can
help. We have clinics throughout
the Tri-Cities. For help finding the
right one for you, visit our website
at
or call
(509) 942-DOCS
(
942-3627
).
Kids and heart disease: Your doctor can help
Take family health to heart
2 • www.kadlec.org
family
healthy
heart
HEALTHY HEART is published as a community
service for the friends and patrons of KADLEC
REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 888 Swift Blvd.,
Richland, WA 99352, 509-946-4611, website
Rand Wortman
President and CEO
Kadlec Health System
Nikki Ostergaard
Marketing Specialist
Kadlec Health System
Lane Savitch
President
Kadlec Regional
Medical Center
Jim Hall
Community Relations
Director
Kadlec Health System
Information in HEALTHY HEART comes from a
wide range of medical experts. If you have any
concerns or questions about specific content that
may affect your health, please contact your health
care provider.
sed in photos and illustrations.
offey Communications, Inc. HTN29039
