Family history and coronary artery disease
Published: 16 April 2025
If you have a family history of coronary artery disease you may be at higher risk of developing heart disease yourself. Learn more about family history and the changes you can make to help lower your risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
What is a family history of coronary artery disease?
Heart disease is a term used to describe any condition that affects your heart.
The most common kind of heart condition is coronary artery disease (CAD). It is also called ischaemic heart disease or coronary heart disease. This condition is the main cause of heart attacks, angina and strokes.
Other kinds of heart conditions include those that affect the structure of the heart, the heart muscle and/or your heart rhythm. These include congenital heart disease which is present from birth, or inherited or genetic heart conditions which may be passed on through families.
This article specifically looks at a family history of coronary artery disease.
What family history puts you at risk?
Having a family history of coronary artery disease is a risk factor for developing heart disease yourself.
This means you may be at increased risk if you have a first-degree relative who has had a heart attack or stroke or has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
New Zealand guidelines define a first-degree relative as a birth parent or sibling, related by birth, not by marriage or adoption. This means your:
- mother
- father
- brother
- sister.
You may also be more at risk of coronary artery disease if you’ve got a parent or sibling with:
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- familial hypercholesterolaemia – inherited high cholesterol.
It’s important to tell your doctor if your parent or sibling had a heart attack or stroke no matter what their age.
Questions to ask your family about coronary artery disease
Find out about your family history of coronary artery disease. Here are some useful questions to ask:
- Has anyone in our family had a heart attack or stroke? Who? At what age?
- Does anyone have high cholesterol or high blood pressure?
- Are there any cases of diabetes in our family?
- Has anyone been in the hospital for heart problems?
- Has anyone had surgeries or procedures for heart problems (e.g. stents or a bypass)?
- Does anyone take medications for:
- heart disease or a heart condition
- diabetes
- blood pressure
- cholesterol.
Share your family heart history with your health professional and with other family members. Remember to update your doctor if there are any changes to your family heart history like a new heart attack, diagnosis or procedure.
Does family history of coronary artery disease increase your risk?
A family history of coronary artery disease means you may be more likely to develop heart disease yourself.
While you can’t change your family history, there are other changes you can make to lower your overall risk of heart disease.
How to lower your risk of coronary artery disease
Knowing your coronary artery disease risk can help you to decide to make positive changes. Even small changes can make a difference.
Choices you make every day can lower your risk and help maintain a healthy heart.
- Move more
- Make healthy food and drink choices
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Stop smoking
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Manage high blood pressure
- Maintain a healthy cholesterol level
- Manage diabetes
- Manage stress
Learn more about ways you can lower your risk of heart disease.
Check your risk of heart disease
A heart check with your doctor or nurse can help you find out your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. Your personal risk factors determine when you should see your healthcare provider for a heart check, also known as cardiovascular disease risk assessment (CVDRA). Find out what age you should start having heart checks.
The Heart Foundation has a free online heart health check, My Heart Check. It’s helpful to estimate your 'heart age' and your heart attack risk, but it doesn’t replace the need for a comprehensive heart risk assessment done by your healthcare provider.
What if I’m adopted?
Not everyone will have access to their family heart history. It can be hard to get a full history if you’re adopted or not in contact with family members.
Although family history is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, it’s not the only one. Many other risk factors can be managed with a heart-healthy lifestyle and having regular heart checks with your health professional.