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- Do you suffer from migraine?
- Do you have a good memory?
- Do you have healthy bones?
- At what age did you enter menopause?
- Has or has there been cases of ovarian cancer in our family?
Do you suffer from migraine?
More than half of all migraine sufferers have family members who also suffer from migraine. Women suffer from migraine about three times as often as men. The reason: in women, hormonal fluctuations - such as menstruation or pregnancy - cause migraine attacks.
A migraine attack can last for up to 72 hours. In addition to side headache, there are other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light and noise, nausea and constant fatigue.
Only recently, the world's largest migraine study to date (based on genomic samples from 375, 000 Europeans, Americans and Australians) discovered new evidence of gene variants that may promote the cause of migraine.
Anyone who knows that they are prone to migraine attacks can prevent them accordingly - from the right nutrition to medical prophylaxis. Stress and medicines can also trigger migraines. Anyone who knows the causes can counteract this, for example with meditation, yoga and relaxation or with substitute medications.
Do you have a good memory?
The causes of Alzheimer's are not yet fully proven. However, researchers have been able to demonstrate in studies that a specific gene mutation increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, metabolic diseases such as diabetes or elevated cholesterol levels, as well as circulatory and heart diseases such as high blood pressure or strokes, can increase Alzheimer's risk.
If your mother suffers from Alzheimer's, it is important to know the age at which she is ill. If she is younger than 65, it is an indication that the cause may be genetic. On the other hand, over 65 years old, it is more difficult to determine the cause.
What to do if you know it from your own mother? Then you should avoid all possible risk factors that promote Alzheimer's disease. Non-smoking, drinking little alcohol and eating well can prevent diseases that promote Alzheimer's disease.
Do you have healthy bones?
Women are about twice as likely to be affected by osteoporosis as men. Although many people fall ill at an advanced age of bone loss, as the bone substance degrades in late life: From the age of 35, the bone mass shrinks by 0.5 percent per year. If the bone density decreases faster, more frequent fractures and pains tend.
However, the genes play a big role in how fast, when and how seriously the bone mass dissolves. Anyone who knows about their genetic makeup can accordingly prevent premature osteoporosis: additional risk factors can thus be specifically avoided. If you regularly exercise a lot (such as aerobics, running, cycling or swimming), stimulates the bone structure. Calcium-rich diet (eg hard cheese, kale, nuts), as well as enough vitamin D (such as by sunlight and regular consumption of fish, avocado and eggs) the bone strength. Certain medications may also have a preventative effect after consultation with a specialist.
At what age did you enter menopause?
On average, women are menopausal at the age of 50 or 51, some menopause begins at 45, others at 55. In this period, estrogen levels are lower as the (natural) activity of the ovaries decreases. Alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as weight and lifestyle affect the time of menopause. But most of the genes determine when a woman comes into the menopause, as researchers have found in a study of the University of Utrecht. To be more precise: to 85 percent (!), The menopause is genetically "preprogrammed."
As more and more women opt for a late pregnancy, they are well advised to research when their own mother entered menopause.
If the mother started menopause before the age of 45, she should be examined. An early decline in estrogen levels may increase the risk of other diseases such as osteoporosis (see above).
Has or has there been cases of ovarian cancer in our family?
Up to ten percent of all ovarian or cervical cancers are genetic. If a family member suffers from one of these tumor types, their own risk is also increased. If it is a first-degree relative - mother, sister or daughter - the risk of developing it is twice as high as that of women who have no cases in the family. If there are two or more cases of ovarian or cervical cancer (first or second degree) in the family, even your own risk triples.
Regular check-ups at the gynecologist are recommended in any case.
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