Heart Attack Symptoms Warning Signs According to the World Heart Federation , if a first-degree male relative like a father or brother has suffered a heart attack before the age of 55, or if a first-degree female a relative has suffered one before the age of 65, you are at greater risk of developing heart disease. If both parents have suffered from heart disease before the age of 55, your risk of developing heart disease can rise by 50 percent compared to the general population. So, if heart disease runs in your family, your risk is higher. There are certain heart conditions that run in families like cardiomyopathy that affect the physical structure of the heart and its ability to pump blood effectively. Then there is arrhythmia or heart rhythm problems and certain structural problems of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. You have little control over these and will need treatment to tackle them. Get your blood pressure, lipid profile, and blood sugar tested...