10 Genetic Disorders That Are Inherited Through the Female Line

Our genes define not only our appearance and personality but also the weaknesses in our bodies. Depression and insomnia, for instance, can be caused not by serious stress or exhaustion but by genetic predisposition. In this article, we’ll talk about genetic disorders that a daughter can inherit from her mother.

Bright Side would like to warn you that genetic predisposition requires you to be more attentive to your health, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll inevitably fall ill.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease where increased bone weakness increases the risk of a broken bone. It’s women who are usually affected by this disease, and genetic predisposition is one of the most important risk factors. Osteoporosis can reveal itself after menopause, the period when bones lose calcium and become fragile.

Preventive measures:

• You should eat more food rich with calcium. But don’t forget that calcium can be absorbed by your body only when combined with vitamin D. Consult with your therapist and ask them to prescribe you necessary vitamin supplements. Also, try to take outdoor walks more often.
• Don’t smoke. This bad habit of yours reduces the capability of your body to absorb calcium and influences bone mineral density.
• Don’t drink soda. Regular consumption is associated with a significant 14% increased risk of hip fracture.
• Control your weight and do sports. People aged between 19 and 64 are recommended to have 150 minutes of aerobic activity weekly, as well as muscle-building exercises for the legs, hips, back, chest, arms, and shoulders twice a week.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not clear, but scientists suggest that it involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors which affect a person’s immune system.

Preventive measures:

• Quit smoking and reduce consumption of coffee and red meat.
• Take care of your teeth and gums thoroughly, visit a dentist on a regular basis. Periodontal disease can lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Include foods rich with vitamin C into your diet. This antioxidant reduces the risk of inflammation in your body.

Premature aging

Scientists discovered that certain genes are responsible for how long our bodies can prevent aging processes. These genes are transmitted from one generation to another on the mother’s side. If you inherit your mother’s damaged DNA, your aging process will be faster.

Unfortunately, scientists haven’t figured out yet how to reverse this process but it’s worth using sunscreen with a high SPF because sunlight sensitivity is also an inherited feature.

Depression

300 million people suffer from depression every year. Scientists managed to discover gene Slc6a15 which is responsible for depression and can be inherited. Women are twice more likely to be affected by depression than men, and it can even become a chronic disease. Postpartum depression can also be inherited.

Preventive measures:

• Take care of your physical state: you need to sleep well, have a well-balanced diet and get regular physical exercise.
• Don’t hold your problems inside, turn to your friends and family for help. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to.
• Don’t be ashamed to visit a psychotherapist if you feel that your condition has become worse.

Glaucoma

Women are affected by glaucoma more often than men, while the genetic mutations this disease is associated with can be inherited.

Preventive measures:

• Get a check-up. You need to visit an ophthalmologist every 2 to 4 years before the age of 40, every 1 to 3 years from age 40 to 54, every 1 to 2 years from age 55 to 64, and every 6 to 12 months after the age of 65.
• You need to practice regular but moderate physical exercise like walking or jogging 3 or more times a week. You can also do yoga but avoid doing upside down poses which can strain the neck and shoulders.

Сardiovascular diseases

The deposition of fat in a female body is defined genetically, so if fat is concentrated around the belly, the risks of cardiovascular diseases double. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream which is deposited in the coronary arteries leading to a heart attack can be inherited too.

Preventive measures:

• Being overweight increases the risks of having an apoplectic stroke, a heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Find the physical activity which suits you best and do it 3-4 times a week.
• Revise your diet: give up salty, sweet and fatty foods and eat more vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
• Quit smoking, you’ll reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases this way.
• Have regular check-ups and keep an eye on your levels of arterial pressure and cholesterol.

Migraines

Women suffer from migraines 3 times more often than men. This disease can be passed down genetically too but it’s possible to ease this condition and reduce the number of migraine attacks.

Preventive measures:

• Reduce your consumption of alcohol, chocolate, cheese, coffee, and citrus fruits. All these foods can cause migraines.
• Try to avoid places with strong smells and bright lights.
• Drink a lot of water.
• Allocate time for rest and relaxation every day.

Insomnia

Scientists found that insomnia can be caused not only by psychological issues but also by genetic ones. They also discovered a strong genetic overlap with other traits such as anxiety disorders, depression, and neuroticism. These characteristics tend to go hand in hand with insomnia and this is partly due to their shared genetic basis.

Preventive measures:

• Don’t go to bed with negative thoughts on your mind.
• Don’t drink coffee, smoke, or eat heavy foods at the end of the day.
• Don’t do physical exercise late in the evening. It’s better to finish all physical activity 4 hours before going to bed.
• Try to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia which is more likely to appear in women than men. There’s no cure for this disease but you can reduce the risks of it if you follow a healthy lifestyle.

Preventive measures:

• Control your levels of blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of dementia development.
• Do sports, your brain tissue oxygen saturation will increase this way.
• Limit your consumption of sugar and saturated fats, add fruit and vegetables to your diet.

Breast and ovarian cancer

In 2013, famous actress Angelina Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy. 2 years later, after her annual test results indicated possible signs of early ovarian cancer, she underwent a preventive oophorectomy (the surgical removal of the ovaries). She did this to minimize her risk of cancer her mother and grandmother had previously died of. Jolie has a defective BRCA1 gene which increases the probability of getting breast and ovarian cancer significantly. But scientists claim that not all gene mutations lead to cancer, so you don’t have to immediately undertake such serious preventive measures.

Preventive measures:

• Minimize your consumption of alcohol.
• Have a child by the age of 30. The study suggests that giving birth to your first child by the age of 30 reduces breast cancer risk.
• Don’t smoke.
• Have regular check-ups.

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