Heart condition affects eight in one family

EIGHT members of a Fife family have been diagnosed with the same heart condition after a mum collapsed at home.

Sarah Latto, 49, was referred by her GP to a cardiologist after a dizzy spell resulted in a minor head injury.

While Sarah waited for blood test results, her 89-year-old mother was also hospitalised after suffering cardiac arrest.

Further tests resulted in both mother and daughter being diagnosed with an inherited cardiac condition known as Long QT syndrome.

Genetic screening of the family revealed seven relatives, including Sarah’s 15-year-old daughter, shared the same gene mutation.

Because inherited cardiac conditions are complex, each family member requires bespoke treatment.

Since the diagnosis, Sarah’s motto is “be thankful for today and pray for a fun-filled and healthy tomorrow”.

She encourages anyone who suffers dizziness or has a family member who died unexpectedly to find out more and get themselves screened.

“It was frightening to think that I had passed something on to my daughter genetically,” she said.

“But at the age of nine Jasmine took it all in her stride. She told me ‘mum, if my heart is as special as yours then I’ll be just fine’.”

About 10,000 people in Scotland have an inherited cardiac condition.

For many families, the first sign there is something wrong is when someone dies suddenly, with no obvious cause.