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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.