Having a healthy body and free from disease is definitely everyone's desire. However sadly, there is several types disease that of course hard to avoid, one of them is hereditary disease.
Hereditary diseases come from mutations or changes in genetic traits that are passed from one or both parents to children. Hereditary diseases are generally difficult or even impossible to prevent. People who appear healthy may have inherited diseases or be at risk of passing genetic disorders in their offspring.
To identify hereditary diseases and the risk of passing this disease on to children, genetic testing can be carried out on parents before planning a pregnancy, or on the fetus in the womb.
Recognize Various Hereditary Diseases
The following are some of the common hereditary diseases:
1. Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes causes the sufferer to lack the hormone insulin. This disease is generally hereditary, and often occurs since childhood. But there is also type 1 diabetes that occurs in adulthood.
The risk of a child getting this hereditary disease will be higher if both biological parents suffer from type 1 diabetes.
2. Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a hereditary disease that causes blood clotting disorders. This condition is more common in men. Under normal conditions, blood clotting factors will work to make the blood clot when there is an injury or bleeding.
But in hemophiliacs, the body lacks clotting factors, so it takes longer to stop bleeding.
3. Thalassemia
This hereditary disease is a disease that attacks the red blood cells of the sufferer. This condition reduces the hemoglobin in the red blood cells of the sufferer, making it difficult for oxygen to be circulated throughout the body. Children born with thalassemia weight most die at birth.
In some cases, children who have thalassemia can live, but are very susceptible to anemia, so often require blood transfusions.
4. Alzheimer
Alzheimer's disease is a serious brain disorder that makes a person seriously senile, and affects his ability to carry out daily activities.
This hereditary disease usually affects older people over the age of 60, but it is possible to occur in people who are younger. A person's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease will increase if he has family members who also suffer from this disease.
5. Cancer
Cancer can occur not only because of unhealthy living habits, but genetic factors also increase a person's risk of experiencing this disease. However, cancers that are purely inherited by genetic factors are relatively small, which is about 5%-10% of cancer cases due to other cancer causes.
6. Heart disease
Genetic factors play a significant role in the emergence of heart disease. However, there are indeed several factors that can increase the risk of this disease, such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, being overweight, suffering from high cholesterol, and rarely exercising.
7. Mental disorders
People who suffer from mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders, Down's syndrome, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are more likely to have parents or siblings who suffer from similar disorders.
However, this mental disorder can also occur in people without a history of similar diseases in their family. This is presumably because in addition to genetic factors, the emergence of mental disorders is also influenced by other factors, such as stress or severe psychological pressure.
People who have a history of hereditary diseases in the family need to be more vigilant. Although most hereditary diseases cannot be prevented, the risk can be reduced. Therefore, do regular health checks to the doctor.
You can also do genetic testing or DNA testing before getting married and planning a pregnancy, to detect early the possibility of hereditary diseases that can be passed on to children.