Six health conditions you can inherit from your mother
Genetics have a huge role to play in our health and well-being. As per the
research from the Institute of Cancer Research at the University of London,
there are 57 per cent chances that a girl will start menstruating within three
months of the date when her mother first began to menstruate. So, yes genes do
play a role.
Here are six health conditions that you can inherit from mother.
Heart disease
If your mother had a heart attack, your chances of getting it increases by
20 per cent. A study from Oxford University showed that your chances of getting
a stroke also increase if your mother has suffered one. This happens because
the inherited vascular disease affects the coronary artery in the heart as well
as the cerebral artery in the brain.
Breast cancer
Women carrying mutated gene BRCA1 or BRCA2 are more at risk of developing
breast cancer. Most women who have this defective gene develop breast cancer at
an early age.
It’s extremely important for women to get mammograms after the age of 40.
If any of your relatives have breast cancer, you should get genetically
screened. Women who have a family history of breast cancer get prophylactic
mastectomies to reduce their chances of developing cancer.
Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer Society has found that the Alzheimer gene can be passed on.
If your mother is suffering or has suffered from Alzheimer, your chances of
getting dementia increase by 30 – 50 per cent.
Keeping a check on your weight, getting your blood pressure and cholesterol
monitored regularly and leading an overall healthy lifestyle can help reduce
your risk of developing dementia by almost 20 per cent.
Depression
Mental illnesses are known to run in families. There is a 10 per cent
chance of you inheriting depression if you have a family history of it.
Take proper sleep, watch your alcohol intake and manage stress levels to
reduce your chances of getting depression.
Migraine
You might be shocked to know but there are 70 – 80 per cent chances that
you might suffer from migraine if your mother did. The flawed gene that causes
headache can be passed on.
Some common migraine triggers include sensitive foods like chocolate,
cheese, coffee, citrus fruit and red wine. Also, girls need to really take care
of their hormones during the menstrual cycle as it can set them off.
Early menopause
If your mother had early menopause, your chances of following her footsteps
increase by 70 – 85 per cent. The average age of menopause is 51, but one in
every 20 women gets it even before the age of 46.
There is nothing you can do to prevent early menopause, though you can meet
your doctor to get advice.