08/07/2026
❤️ Your Family History Could Help Protect Your Future
Heart and vascular health can run in families. Knowing whether a parent, sibling, or other close relative has experienced heart disease, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, an aortic aneurysm, or peripheral artery disease (PAD) can give you and your healthcare provider valuable insight into your own cardiovascular risk.
Take time to ask your family:
❤️ Has anyone had a heart attack or stroke?
🩸 Does high blood pressure or high cholesterol run in our family?
🫀 Has anyone been diagnosed with an aneurysm or heart disease?
🦵 Is there a history of PAD or other circulation problems?
📅 How old were they when they were diagnosed?
But what if you don't know your family history?
That's okay—family history is only one piece of the picture. Some people are adopted, have limited information about biological relatives, have lost family members, or simply don't have anyone they can ask.
You can still be proactive about your heart health. ❤️ Talk with your healthcare provider about what you do know and focus on the risk factors you can measure and manage, including your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, activity level, smoking history, and overall health. Your provider can also help determine whether additional testing or screening may be appropriate for you.
At Chicago Cardiology Institute, we believe prevention starts with understanding your individual risk—whether you know your entire family history or none of it.
Know what you can. Check what you can. Take care of your heart. ❤️