Creating a Family Health History
Frequently Asked Questions
7. My father died of a heart attack at age 45. What does that mean for me?
Developing a disease at an earlier age than usual -- 10 to 20 years before most people get it -- can increase other family members' risk. For example, coronary artery disease in men under 55 years old and women under 65 years old is a warning sign for risk in other family members. Other danger signs are breast, ovarian, colon, or prostate cancer before age 50, and heart disease before age 50.
