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12/05/2014
Heart Risk Warning For Old And Young People
The British Heart Foundation has estimated that around half a million people in the UK could be living with a faulty gene putting them at unusually high risk of developing heart disease or dying suddenly at a young age.
Inherited heart conditions are heart conditions which are often passed on through families, because of a single faulty gene. There are several different types each affecting the heart in a different way. For many families the first sign there is a problem is when someone dies suddenly, with no obvious explanation.
This deadly legacy can span generations – someone living with an inherited heart condition has a 50/50 chance of passing it onto their children. Previous estimates suggested up to 380,000 people could be living with a faulty gene but underdiagnosis means this figure may be much higher.
Despite advancements in research into inherited heart conditions, many of which we've driven, lots of these faulty genes still remain undiscovered. Finding those genes through lab research is the first step towards developing improved genetic tests to find people at risk. An early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death.
Medical Director, Professor Peter Weissberg, said: "We urgently need to accelerate research into inherited heart conditions.
"Over recent years researchers have made great strides in identifying some of the genes that cause inherited heart conditions. A genetic test in a child of an affected parent can save their life. More research is now urgently needed to identify all the genes responsible for these deadly disorders.
"Pinpointing genes which cause inherited heart conditions will allow affected children to be protected and, in the long term, will lead to new treatments to overcome the effects of the faulty gene."
(CD)
Inherited heart conditions are heart conditions which are often passed on through families, because of a single faulty gene. There are several different types each affecting the heart in a different way. For many families the first sign there is a problem is when someone dies suddenly, with no obvious explanation.
This deadly legacy can span generations – someone living with an inherited heart condition has a 50/50 chance of passing it onto their children. Previous estimates suggested up to 380,000 people could be living with a faulty gene but underdiagnosis means this figure may be much higher.
Despite advancements in research into inherited heart conditions, many of which we've driven, lots of these faulty genes still remain undiscovered. Finding those genes through lab research is the first step towards developing improved genetic tests to find people at risk. An early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death.
Medical Director, Professor Peter Weissberg, said: "We urgently need to accelerate research into inherited heart conditions.
"Over recent years researchers have made great strides in identifying some of the genes that cause inherited heart conditions. A genetic test in a child of an affected parent can save their life. More research is now urgently needed to identify all the genes responsible for these deadly disorders.
"Pinpointing genes which cause inherited heart conditions will allow affected children to be protected and, in the long term, will lead to new treatments to overcome the effects of the faulty gene."
(CD)
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£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
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