Genes not destiny when it comes to heart disease (Canada)

When it comes to heart disease, lifestyle usually trumps genetics, says noted genetic researcher Dr. Robert Hegele, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecturer at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009. Dr. Hegele's work is unravelling the nature vs. nurture debate that has intrigued scientists for years. He says that for about five per cent of patients, the effect of genetics is so strong there is little they can do, but that 95 per cent of us can override our genes by following a healthy lifestyle. "Even if you've been dealt a bad hand of genes, it's not a life sentence for most people," says Dr. Hegele, director of the Martha G. Blackburn Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory at Robarts Research Institute. "Simple actions - basic things like smoking cessation, following a healthy diet, and physical activity - are the key to overturning genetic predisposition." - Robarts Research