34 things your parents’ health reveals about you

Studies suggest that roughly half your risk for alcoholism comes from a complex interaction of genes that you inherited from your parents. Children of parents with alcoholism are about four times more likely than others to become addicted. But genes aren’t destiny, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism stresses. More than 50 percent of kids of people with alcohol dependence don’t develop the disease. One way to help prevent developing alcoholism is to drink moderately (no more than one drink a day for women or two a day for men). If you’re worried about your drinking, talk to your doctor or another health-care provider about it. They’re trained to screen patients for addiction and advise on local resources that can help.

Certain genes may be at fault for some cases of osteoporosis and fractures, research suggests. If one of your parents has low bone density, take note. “There is strong evidence for an increased risk of osteoporosis if your mother had it,” Todd Sontag, DO, a family medicine specialist told Reader’s Digest. You’re also at increased risk if either parent has broken a hip, he says. Adequate vitamin D and calcium intake, along with regular weight-bearing exercises such as walking or strength training, is key to building up your bones.

Learn 10 ways to stave off osteoporosis. 

If your mum gave birth to a set of fraternal twins, that means she likely has a gene that told her body to release more than one egg during ovulation, the New York Times reports, increasing the chances that she’ll have fraternal twins. It also means that her daughters have a 50-50 chance of having that gene, too. Having the gene doesn’t affect a man’s likelihood of siring twins, but he could pass the trait to a daughter. (Identical twins are not hereditary – rather, it’s a random event when one fertilised egg splits into two.)

Heart disease is a major cause of death around the world. While there is a significant family link – researchers have identified more than 50 genetic markers for heart disease – lifestyle can change your health destiny. One large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with a genetic predisposition for heart disease were able to slash their risk by 50 percent with a healthy lifestyle that included eating a nutritious diet, avoiding smoking and being physically active.

Here are 18 ways to keep your blood pressure in check. 

The average age of menopause is 51, although many women hit that hormonal stage earlier, around age 45. Going through “the change” before the age of 40, however, is considered early. Illnesses such as epilepsy have been linked to early menopause, as well as certain cancer treatments and lifestyle issues such as obesity and smoking. But genes play a role, too. If your mother went through menopause early, you’re more likely than the general population to do it, too.

These are the 9 post-menopausal health risks you can’t ignore. 

The skin condition rosacea – in which a person’s nose or cheeks get red with blushing skin, swelling, or tiny red veins or pimples – is often mistaken for acne; a flare-up can be triggered by stress, heat or alcohol. Recent research in twins suggests that about half of your risk for developing rosacea may be genetic, according to the National Rosacea Society, although no one has identified the genes responsible. Some ethnic groups also have higher rates of rosacea, including people of Scottish, Scandinavian, and eastern European descent.

Most people who get colon cancer do not have a family history of the disease. However, people with a parent or a sibling who has the cancer are at increased risk, especially if the relative was diagnosed before age 45, according to the American Cancer Society. The cause of these “family” cancers could be genes, environment or a combination of both.

Blame Mum, Dad, or both if you find yourself wheezing. About three-fifths of asthma cases are thought to be hereditary. People with one parent who has the condition are up to six times more likely than the rest of the population to develop the condition themselves.

People with a parent or sibling who has coeliac disease – a serious autoimmune condition in which eating gluten damages the intestines – are at increased risk of developing the condition themselves. Anyone with a family history who notices adult symptoms of the disorder, such as weight loss, osteoporosis, fatigue, depression or migraines, should talk to their doctor. A simple blood test can usually rule out coeliac.

“Family history of melanoma increases one’s risk for developing melanoma,” says Dr.  Anthony of this deadly skin cancer. “Hereditary melanoma can be related to known gene mutations, but this is usually the exception rather than the norm. Other genetic risk factors are fair skin, red hair and tendency to sunburn.” Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are the most common skin cancers, however, and are generally related to the amount of UV exposure you get rather than to genetics. “It is important to tell your dermatologist about any family history of atypical moles or skin cancer, including melanoma. I recommend a full body skin exam by a board-certified dermatologist every three to 12 months, monthly self-skin exams at home, and good sun-protection habits,” says Dr. Anthony.