15 Things Your Mother’s Health Says About You

Yours mother body may be an indication of your own future heath. Here is how and what you can do about it. Genetics play a big part in health conditions; so looking at your mom’s health can give you’re a clue of what can happen with you. Best MaternityCare in Chandigarh is especially true of complications that affect women more than men. These are as follows:

·         Osteoporosis: A recent research has found genetic variants predisposing some people to the disease. There is an evidence for an increased risk of osteoporosis if your mother has it or parental history of hip fracture. So take enough of calcium and vitamin D and live a healthy life style.

·         Wrinkles: If you are getting wrinkles, then ask your mom when did she begin having wrinkles. Looking at her and her pictures can help you understand the things that are needed to deal with it. Daily sunscreen lotion and an anti-aging serum with retinol, vitamin C and vitamin E application can help. If skin is fairer, chances of skin cancer is more.

·         Mental health: Stress and depression are twice more common in women than men. This is due to the hormonal fluctuations in women and due to reaction of women to stress and trauma. Female experience depression more often than men and it is genetically linked. Certain genetic mutations associated with depression occur only in women. So if your mother had depression and you have mild symptoms, get timely treatment.

·         Migraines: Women are more likely than men to have migraines, because of hormonal fluctuations. One of the main factor for migraine is family history. If your mother has migraine, you are likely to develop.

·         Alzheimer’s disease: Nearly two-third of those with Alzheimer’s are women. There are genetic markers that have been identified that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. If your mother and father have genetic mutation of early onset of Alzheimer’s, there is 50% chance that your will inherit it. You can reduce your risk by exercising, eating a healthy diet, maintaining social ties and staying mentally active.

·         Heart disease and diabetes: If you have a genetic similarity of weight and body shape, you and your mother also have a similar risk of heart disease, the no. one killer of women as well as type 2 diabetes. American Society of Human Genetics found that maternally inherited gene variants of how women store fat can affect their risk of Type 2 DM. There is evidence that if your mother has heart disease and type 2 DM, you are at higher risk of developing them.

·         Pregnancy: If you want to know what will be your pregnancy experience, then ask your mother. If you have family history of diabetes, you are at increased risk for gestational diabetes. Pre-eclampsia is also more common in women who have had high B.P. and high B.P. is inherited. Severe morning sickness is also inherited.

·         Breast cancer: Breast cancer has genetic pre-disposition. If you have family history of breast cancer, then you have increased chance of getting it. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk. If your mom or other female relative have breast cancer, consider a genetic counselor for genetic testing. The gene mutation which is to be tested is BRCA 1.

·         Ovarian cancer: The same is with ovarian cancer. The gene mutation which is associated with hereditary ovarian cancer is BRCA 2 gene mutation.

·         Post-partum depression (PPD): Studies show that post-partum depression is genetically linked. Your risk for PPD increases if your mother or another family member for eg. sister, aunt had PPD. So ask your mother about her post-partum experiences. This will give you a clue about risk factors for you.

·         Eye issues: Women are more likely to have the eye condition called glaucoma and are more likely to be visually impaired or blind from it says the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Women are more likely to have dry eye syndrome. If your mom or dad has glaucoma, then you should screen for it regularly.

·         Menopause: Studies have shown that the age at which your mother went through menopause will be partly responsible for which you will have if your mother went through menopause early or premature ovarian failure before 40. It can be caused by number of conditions in which some of the conditions are inherited.

·         Fertility: Regarding getting pregnant, causes of infertility and miscarriage are not genetic. But there are certain conditions like endometriosis; there is increased risk in first-degree relative. Some women with recurrent miscarriage can have inherited chromosomes and genetic testing can be done. In some other conditions like PCOD, it is not clear yet whether genetics are at play.

·         Weight and body shape: The condition of your body is partly genetic and partly environmental. So if your mother has a certain body type or weight, you may be more likely to have the same one. But this is not genetic. If you grow up eating the same way as your mother, you develop a similar body. Like-wise the fitness level you achieve is partly hereditary and partly lifestyle. If your mom is over-weight, you can help avoid the same by eating healthy and exercising.

·         Rare genetic disorders: A few disorders like Huntington’s disease are very strongly genetically linked. If one of your parents has the mutated genes that cause this neuron-degenerative disease, you have 50% chances of inheriting that gene. If you have, you will develop Huntington’s 100%. You may be born with a genetic predisposition to certain disorders but that does not mean you will develop it. Genetic predisposition is the loaded gun and lifestyle factor can pull the trigger. So some of the things we can control and some we can’t. so if your mom had certain conditions, you can try to avoid them. Best Maternity Care in Chandigarh is especially true of complications that affect women more than men. For More details visit Dr. S.K.Gambhir  Website.