Like books in a library, our genetic information is neatly sorted in every cell. There are 46 thick volumes – the chromosomes. Your chapters are the genes, more than 30,000. Sometimes a “misprint” appears in a chapter. A mutated risk gene develops that can play a key role in the development of the disease. For example in breast cancer or an allergy. However, a single error in the genetic code usually only increases the risk slightly. Only with several it increases noticeably. Risk genes can be passed on within a family, for example from mother to daughter. At the age of 45 or 50, the question usually arises as to whether it applies to you. Fortunately, there is only a 4-10 percent risk of recurrence.
More good news: Research has found that mutated genes can be turned off through a healthy lifestyle. In order to further reduce the risk, a genetic test can clarify whether there is a risk. For this purpose, a human geneticist creates a risk profile for the patient. She learns how likely it is that she will get an illness. And the specialist doctor develops an individual early detection program that B. recommends how often she should go for a colonoscopy. vital explains which diseases this is possible with, when genetic counseling brings clarity, which lifestyle protects. And which questions to ask mother, grandmother or sister when searching for genetic clues.
Table of Contents
Inherited diseases : fibroids
“Were you and grandma dealing with a strong rule?”
- Your risk The benign growths in the uterine muscles not only push estrogen, but also a hereditary disposition: The daughters of mothers with fibroids have a 3 times higher risk.
- Important checks If you have a constantly heavy period, a palpation examination and vaginal sonography by the gynecologist will show whether fibroids are present.
- This protects you Recent studies show that obesity up to triples the risk of fibroids. Ideal: a BMI of 20 to 25; prefer chicken or turkey to beef and less sausage, but lots of green vegetables.
Hereditary diseases: HEART WEAKNESS
“Did grandma secretly take heart pills, just like you?”
- Your risk There is a genetic predisposition to primary heart failure. A study by the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm: If the mother has this heart muscle disease, the daughter inherits a risk of 43 percent.
- Important checks Even if there is only one case of heart failure in the family, first-degree relatives should have an ECG and heart ultrasound every two years, even without symptoms, advises the German Society of Cardiology.
- This protects you Swimming or walking for 150 minutes a week, eating cold-water fish with lots of omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and mackerel 3 times a week, eating 3 tablespoons of olive oil daily, keeping your waist circumference under 80 cm if possible.
Hereditary diseases: GREEN STAR
“Why have you been taking eye drops for as long as I can remember?”
- Your risk If a first-degree relative (e.g. mother, sister) has glaucoma, the risk is about 6 times higher. Other factors: Age over 40, severe myopia.
- Important checks From the age of 40, check the intraocular pressure and optic nerve every two years, go to the doctor immediately if you have a restricted field of vision or a blind spot.
- This protects you According to a recent US study from January 2016, kale reduces the risk by 28 percent, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, chard, rocket or lamb’s lettuce by 18 percent. Their nitrate content improves the disturbed outflow of aqueous humor.
Hereditary diseases: VARICOSE VEINS
“Do you often have thick ankles after sitting or standing for a long time?”
- Your risk According to the German Vein League, the cause of weak connective tissue is 17.2 percent familial. But there is no gene mutation.
- Important checks If the ankles are swollen in the evening and calf cramps are annoying at night, a phlebologist should carry out a vein function diagnosis (e.g. Doppler sonography). Especially with visible varicose veins, spider veins.
- This protects you Put your feet up more often, tap your feet at your desk every 30 minutes, wear compression stockings (available in pharmacies), cold cast your calves or tread water, avoid constipation.
Hereditary diseases: BREAST CANCER
“Didn’t grandma have breast surgery when you were a little girl?”
- Your risk Only 5 percent have an inherited gene mutation – from mother to daughter to granddaughter. In these high-risk families, the risk of breast cancer is 80 percent and that of ovarian cancer is 40 percent, especially if tumors appear before the age of 50.
- Important checks For high-risk patients over the age of 25, palpation of the breast and ovaries every 6 months, ultrasound of the breast, MRI every 12 months, mammography if necessary, genetic counseling, possibly genetic testing.
- This protects you The German Cancer Research Center advises: 30 minutes of cycling 3 times a week, that reduces the risk by a third; drink no more than two glasses of wine per week.
Hereditary diseases: ALLERGIES
“How about you and Dad with an allergy?”
- My risk If both parents are allergic, the risk for the children is 50 to 60 percent, according to the German Allergy and Asthma Association. Both have the same allergy, at 60 to 80 percent.
- Important checks Whether an allergy is present and which allergens (e.g. pollen) trigger it are shown e.g. B. Inhalation, skin tests. Antibodies of an allergic reaction can be measured in the blood.
- This protects you . Desensitization fights the cause and prevents the “change of floors” in the bronchi. Whether by injection or tablet: allergens are dosed ever higher to get the body used to the trigger.
Inherited diseases: COLON CANCER
“Have you ever been diagnosed with colon polyps?”
- My risk If the doctors have found this precursor to cancer and if another family member and one of their first-degree relatives (e.g. parents, siblings) has colon cancer, there is a hereditary gene mutation – as with every 20th colon cancer patient. The risk of contracting the disease increases to up to 80 percent, while the risk of developing a carcinoma in the uterus increases to 60 percent.
- Important checks Genetic counseling plus a genetic test provide information. Go for a colonoscopy every year if you have a previous history of this – in the case of first-degree relatives, 10 years before the age at which they became ill (including polyps).
- This protects you Eat a lot of grains and legumes but little red meat, drink two cups of coffee a day. According to a Dutch study, ASA reduces the formation of polyps, especially from the age of 50 (take 75 mg daily under medical supervision).
Hereditary diseases: NEURODERMATIS
“Have you always had sore, scaly knees?”
- Your risk If one parent is affected, the risk is 20 to 40 percent. But only the predisposition is inherited. Whether and when neurodermatitis breaks out depends on other factors, in particular environmental influences.
- Important checks Blood test (for immunoglobulin E), skin test for a strong immune reaction to allergens.
- This protects you Prevents flare-ups: cleanse the skin with pH-neutral syndets without additives, rub in moisturizing evening primrose oil, soften laundry with fabric softener (without preservatives or fragrances), 20 minutes a day of progressive muscle relaxation, eat lots of fish oil, e.g. B. tuna, sardine, eel.
Hereditary diseases: DEPRESSION
“Tell me, Mom, why do you sometimes withdraw so quietly?”
- Your risk Depression tends to run in families. If first-degree relatives are affected, the risk of depression is 15 percent. Trigger factors: stressful events (e.g. separation, job loss) to which those affected react more sensitively than others.
- Important checks If there is persistent inner emptiness, sadness, feelings of anxiety, or sleep problems, a psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose depression using a standardized questionnaire (e.g. WHO), possibly also with a stress hormone determination.
- This protects you Keep stress hormones down with mindfulness meditation, exercise 15-20 minutes 3-4 times a week, e.g. B. on the treadmill or bicycle ergometer. Get 7-8 hours of sleep every day, write a realistic to-do list (protects you from being overwhelmed), eat a lot of magnesium (soy, beans), folic acid (avocado, lentils).
Hereditary diseases: ANDROGENETIC HAIR LOSS
“When did you realize your hair was thinning?”
- Your risk In 80 percent of women, the head and vertebrae become bald due to a genetic change in the follicle. It is passed from mother to daughter at twice the risk.
- Important checks More than 100 hairs are thinning every day for 3-4 weeks, off to the hair consultation. Dermatologists check forTolfioow substance or hormone deficiencies, analyze the scalp and hair roots.
- That protects you hair need amino acids, proteins, B vitamins, iron, zinc. This is provided by nuts, vegetable oils, barley, potatoes, mushrooms, parsley, broccoli, natural yoghurt and dried fruit. Medicinally effective: tincture or foam with minoxidil (available in pharmacies).
CRACK THE CODE
The secret language of risk statistics
70 percent higher, 3 times larger… Statements like these scare you at first, but are usually not that bad. We explain what’s behind the numbers
Statistical figures on disease risks are difficult to classify. The vast majority of us are easily fooled by them and feel insecure. Above all, high percentages or comparative figures such as e.g. B. “increased by 100 percent” or “twice as often” suggest an enormously increased risk of disease. But what does that mean exactly? Let’s recap the difference between relative and absolute numbers using the example above: A study finds that one in 5000 women gets a certain disease. In the follow-up study, two out of 5000 get sick: twice as many. That sounds scary, no question. But expressed in absolute numbers, it is just one more out of 5000 women. And that corresponds to an absolute increase from 0.02 percent to 0.04 percent. Also a doubling but there is no panic. Both numbers, absolute and relative, should be taken into account when assessing risk. Don’t let this confusion of numbers and terms drive you crazy. If in doubt, ask your doctor for his professional and factual assessment. Rather understand the values for what they really are: your great opportunity to change your life in such a way that you can minimize the known risk factors as much as possible.
MY GENES, YOUR GENES
A DNA analysis makes sense above all when a hereditary disease is based on the mutation of a single gene (e.g. BRCA1, breast cancer). The genetic test z. B. from saliva indicates the probability of contracting the disease or passing on the gene. The registers usually pay.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
In an approx. 1-hour conversation (insurance companies usually pay), human geneticists take a family history, create a gene family tree over four generations, and calculate the hereditary risk. If it’s high, they offer a gene test and plan your personal provision.
