Do Diseases Run In The Family?

@zandi458 (28102)
Malaysia
May 21, 2007 9:46am CST
It's not fair but some diseases are inherited. I have been taking medication for high blood pressure for the last 24 years. It is not very serious now but the doctor said that I cannot go off from the medication once I've started taking it. It runs in the family, my grandfather died because of stroke from high blood pressure. Common dieseas that run in a family include hypertension, high blood cholasterol, obesity, diabetes, heart disease. Do you think you are at risk of certain hereditary disease or do you suspect of having it now. What is the best measure to prevent the disease from being inherited.
5 people like this
15 responses
@rhinoboy (2129)
21 May 07
Many types of conditions are inherited genetically. We hear about the rare-yet-serious ones, because of the suffering people undergo, but we all inherit everything from our parents. All we can do is take measures to counteract the general effects. I suspect that I've inherited a similar condition to you. There have been an inproportionate number of strokes in members of my close family. I thought it was mostly on my mothers side, but my father too suffered a stroke early this year. I was recommended to eat a healthy diet, regular gentle exercise and keep an eye on my blood pressure. You can only go so far with this stuff though, I decided that I will make more effort with my diet and to take more exercise, but you can't waste your life worrying if or when something will happen to you.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
Worrying is of no help but sharing the experience with people having the same problem will help me cope better. You are doing the right thing as I was also advised by my doctor to change my lfestyle, exercise and diet. I think many genetic diseases can be controlled if one make a little sacrifice.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
21 May 07
Yes. i do think that we have alote of diseases that were and are inherited. I know that i have. there is a diseases of blood pressure and diabetes in our family, and when ever i am over weight i do suffer from high blood pressure. But there is an important fact, that no one can deny and not alote of people are aware of. We can avoid those diseases. We can control our lives. When i was in my 20's i had a few rough years and i have gained alote of weight, and my blood pressure was so high that the doctor called me every monday and wednsday, to come and take medication for that, but i was and still am a stubborn person. I knew then just as i know now, that if i go and do sports, lose weight and reduce stress factors, i can get rid off that problem. So i just ignored those phone calls and what everyone told me, and decided to heal myself, the result was that six month after, i did not have the problem anymore. My mother had the same problem at a yung age like me, but she did choose to take medication, and she is still on medication now, 30 years after. The body knows how to rebuild itself, he only needs our help in doing so, so i would suggest people, to just leave those medications to people that people believe that those can save us, and go and save your body and return it's energy and health. :)
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
21 May 07
I do not know how to answer you and that one, i also hope that everything is going to be alright. The question is, can't you little by little lower the medication, and start doing sports and things that will help you? Have you consulted professionals about that possibilitty?
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
The doctor has already taken away one item of the medication. I used to take three types now I am taking two types and also on a reduced mg. I dreaded exercies but now forced myself to walk at least 30 mins every. This is the only exercise that is not being dropped half way.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
How I wished I had not started taking any medication for my HP but I was too naive then. Actually, I was not aware that HP medication have to be taken for life. It could have been cured naturally by strict control of diet and exercises. Your stubborness paid off. You're free from taking medication. I just hope that after taking this medication for so long it will not have adverse side effect on me.
1 person likes this
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
21 May 07
I have high cholestral but it is also in my family. I worry about diabetes because both of my parents have it. So I ran a high rate of having it. I get it checked and so far I have been ok but it worries me. I just know to watch what I eat.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
22 May 07
Ok thank you
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
If both parents have it the chances of getting diabetes if very high as diabetes is on of the inherited disease. Just try to cut down on sweet food.
@aniez0906 (263)
• Indonesia
22 May 07
yeah... may be disease can run in the family...,
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 May 07
It is a reality and it happened to many people.
@devrajrao (167)
• India
22 May 07
Hi zandi you are right there are many diseases which runs in family.some gose from father to son,some from mother to her daughter,some from mother to son, some from one generation to third generation. hypertension,diabetes ,obesity,some cancers,some metabolic disorders these are some examples. At this time i dont think taht i having any genetic disease but i may be, because some of them expresed in old days, the best way to prevent these diseases is, if you having or suspecting that you have some disorder of like that, than visit your docter when you or your wife got pregnant, by this time our science is able to find out that child will suffer from any disease in future or not,although still he or she is in womb.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 May 07
Count yourself lucky for having a clean bill of health. I suppose that early medical check up is a necessity but I don't think the medical field has an answer to it yet.
• Philippines
28 Dec 09
unfortunately,some diseases are hereditary.my grandmother is diagnosed with diabetes.I have to watch out,since I love sweets.I have to watch out so I will not suffer that disease sooner in my life.I drink lots of water after eating sweets to dilute the sugar.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
28 Dec 09
Diabetes is a killer disease that does not heal easily once it licks the body. It weakens the immune system and sores take ages to cure. We should keep careful watch on our diets. Prevention is better than cure.
@syain1972 (1011)
• Singapore
22 May 07
I believe some diseases are hereditary. There is a possibility of you suffering from those diseases as it is genetic. Cannot be help.... But what we can do practice healthy eating and living. What we are 20 years down the road is what we have been doing now. I guess for myself, my dad has high blood, high cholesterol and even gout. Thus, I have to be very careful about what I eat now and always remeber to keep fit. You never know when it'll struck you. Even the fittest person would soon be defeated by those diseases but at a later stage of life.... Can't really tell... But it's better to relook what we have been feeding our body in order to care for it....
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
There is no way out at the moment to escape from this heredity diseases, when it will strike will determine how we had taken care of ourselves.
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
As you already know the inherited diseases are in the blood. There is no way for us just to change our blood. I am sure that they are preventive measures that we can consider such as leading a healthy lifestyles or sticking to healthy diet but really there is no guarantee that you can run away completely form those inherited diseases. It is not fair but then, life is never fair.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
You are right, I have embarked on leading a healthy lifestyle now. I think good to feel good.
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
21 May 07
Well to prevend it is too think really good about what you eat.Ofcourse you can go to mc donalds once in a while but you also have to eat vegetables and stuff and fruits.And not too much.Everyone has a risk of getting a disease but we are able to prevend and you can find it on the internet doctors can subscribe sort of a diet.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
I am learning to eat vegetables now as I have never liked eating vegetable. Fruits are okay for me. Yes eating healthy is the only solution now.
@swapw07 (247)
• United States
21 May 07
My family also has high blood pressure running in the family as well. You know, I don't think you are alone here and I think it is a real tricky issue. None of us like medications, but as for myself I just try to watch what I eat and stay healthy. That's only the best that we can really do to prevent any symptoms from fully manifested in ourselves.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
I think many people suffer high blood pressure. Not only it is a heredity disease it is a modern day disease. A slight mistake in food intake will trigger this disease. We have to be very careful to prevent having one.
• Philippines
22 May 07
My mother in-law has diabetes. My husband doesn't have it yet but he feels that little signs have started showing up. Most of his cousins are already inflicted with this disease. It worries me because my kids might also have it in the near future. I guess, when it runs in the family, it will eventually come out even in the next generations of your kin. It is best to live a healthy lifestyle to delay if not prevent the onset of hereditary diseases.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
If you think your husband or children are likely victims of heredity disease, It is better to have a yearly medical check up, early detection will ensure it can be under control.
@golfproo (1839)
• Canada
21 May 07
I think there are a huge amount of health problems which are inherited. The problem is when they are hereditary, you are stuck with them, that is it. I have a history of heart attacks in my family. I will do my best to watch out for myself (and I do), but I know the bottom line is I am at increased risk for a heart attack because I have inherited this. cheers
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
It is a worrying thing to have history of heart attacts in the family. So its good that you are taking precautions.
@kumar2 (10)
• India
21 May 07
Some of the diseases are inherited genetically. you cannot do any thing about it.How ever if you know that you are prone to certain diseases that runs in your family,you can minimize the effect by adopting healthy life style.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
21 May 07
Thank you Kumar for your advice. I have taken some adjustment to my daily life now.
• Philippines
22 May 07
It truly runs in the family. There is no preventive measure. It is hereditary.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 May 07
Yes, hereditary runs in the family and just pray for miracle to happen so that we will not suffer too much.
@ashar123 (2357)
• India
27 May 07
Yes diseases do run in the family and it is called "inheritance". Inheritance is just like you get many habits from your father and grand father. Diabetes is an example of diseases running down in your family from your ancestors.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
27 May 07
Most sick people suffer from inhereited diseases.