1 in 5 men inherit heart disease risk from fathers

A study from the University of Leicester reveals that genes passed via Y chromosomes can increase risk of heart disease by 50%. The study looked at over 3,000 British men who were involved in other studies related to heart disease risks. The specific version of the Y chromosome linked to the risk was found to be present in 1 in 5 men.
The next step in the research is to determine which genes of this version of the Y chromosome are responsible for the increase in heart disease risk. It’s believed that the genes may lead to the increased risk by upsetting the body’s immune system .
Dr Maciej Tomaszewskin, from the University of Leicester, said:
“Doctors usually associated the Y chromosome with maleness and fertility but this shows it is also implicated in heart disease.”
Men generally develop heart disease a decade before women. Amongst the population, Men over 40 years old have a 50% risk of developing heart disease in their lifetime. Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking are other known factors for increasing risks of developing cardiovascular disease .