Prevention of family diseases.

 Genetic implications of raising a family. 

Here on this blog we have been learning about raising a healthy family. We had about 3 posts on how to raise a healthy family and what should be put into consideration when raising a family. We have talked about how setting a vision and having knowledge could serve as pillars in raising a healthy family. Kindly find these posts here bolahealthconsult.blospot.com. You will be glad you did. 

Onto the matter of the day, humans are embodiment of genetic materials, we are made up of genes, the smallest unit of inheritance. This implies that there is a great implication in genetics when a man and a woman come together to have a child in order to raise a family and to have a healthy one at that. Genes are not seen but are the loudest composition of humans. They are the units by which traits, characters and even diseases can be passed from parents to offspring and from one generation to another. 

While planning a family, you might not be able to prevent the expression of some genes but of course you can make a better decision and make a better choice. It seems archaic, but, in the olden days, the act of having to check if any disease exists in a family is valid, although driven by the fear of transmission of these diseases to the next generation.

Someone might want to marry a fair man or woman just because he or she wants to have a fair child. The same way skin color can be passed down is not far fetched from the way a disease can be passed down from one generation to the other. When settling down to raise the next generation, remember you are choosing their genetic make-up and in this bid, you can influence the genetic composition by your choice of partner even though it's not possible to decide entirely what trait each gene carries. 

In raising a genetically healthy family, you must know that you and your partner's genetic makeup each determines 50% of the genetic makeup of each of your children. It's although a scientific fact that all the mitochondria in your child's body comes from the mother. Basically, the reactants determine the products. 

The fact that some diseases have genetic origin implies that the health of a family may be determined by the genetic makeup of its members. 

How do we influence the genetic makeup of an upcoming family?

1. Knowledge is power. A problem understood is half defeated. What is the disease that is common in your lineage or race? Understand this disease, read about it and study the preventive measures. 

2. Go all out to take steps in preventing them. Put what you have read into use about the prevention of the particular disease. Is there any test that can detect the disease early, periodically go for it.

3. Encourage your partner to work on the 2 points above too. 

4. Check and confirm your genotypes for compatibility. You have known that as an AS, you should not have a child with an AS unless with genetically guided intervention of experts. Check your blood groups to anticipate any special antenatal care to anticipate special antenatal and natal care if you come out rhesus negative. 

5. In case of any serious or even mild genetic diseases, you may need to do genetic counselling and testing marriage. For example a woman with down syndrome, neurofibromatosis or any other genetic disease. 

6. Some chromosomal abnormality can be detected in pregnancy, you should take advantage of this and work closely with your doctor who will take an appropriate step when needed. This is a reason for early registration for antenatal care. 

7. As a woman, it is advisable to marry early and commence child bearing below 35yrs of age when the risk to have a genetically abnormal child is lower. Risk for having a Down syndrome child for example is much more higher in a woman above 35yrs of age. 

In conclusion, many people can escape genetic problems in their home and even these diseases can skip generations but notwithstanding, whoever will consider genetic counselling and testing before raising a family cannot be said to be too cautious. Let me read your comments.

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