It is impossible to protect yourself from everything in life. However, by knowing your genetic risks, monitoring your health, and undergoing regular medical check-ups, you can significantly reduce the chances of serious illnesses and increase the likelihood of having healthy children.
“If both partners carry the same gene mutation, there is about a 25% chance that their child may develop the disease. This is known as autosomal recessive inheritance,” explains Anastasia Volkova, a gynecologist at the Nova Clinic network of reproductive and genetic centers.
Below are some of the most common conditions that may be inherited:
🧬 Diseases and Conditions with a Genetic Component
Diabetes
Diabetes can be inherited, especially if the mother has a confirmed diagnosis. In some cases, children inherit not the disease itself, but a predisposition to developing it later in life.
Tooth Decay (Caries)
If a mother has dental problems, the child’s risk of developing cavities can reach 45–80%. Proper oral hygiene from early childhood and regular dental check-ups can reduce this risk, but do not fully eliminate it.
Color Blindness (Daltonism)
Color vision deficiency is a hereditary condition. If the mother carries this trait, the risk of color blindness in children can reach up to 40%, with boys being significantly more likely to inherit it than girls.
Hemophilia
This genetic disorder affects blood clotting and is inherited. Historically, hemophilia was present in royal families, including the Romanov dynasty, where the condition affected Tsarevich Alexei.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches. According to medical experts, it is inherited in 50–70% of cases, although it can also develop in people with no family history of the condition.
Myopia and Hyperopia (Near- and Farsightedness)
Vision disorders such as nearsightedness and farsightedness are known to have a genetic component and are often passed down through families.
Obesity
Nutritionists note that obesity itself is not inherited, but rather a tendency to gain excess weight. If the mother is overweight, children—especially daughters—have about a 50% chance of developing excess weight as well.
Allergies
Even healthy parents can have children with allergies, but the risk increases significantly if the mother has allergic conditions. In such cases, the likelihood of having an allergic child can reach 40% or more.
Cancer
Cancer can affect seemingly healthy individuals. If a close relative has been diagnosed with cancer, both future parents should be particularly attentive to preventive screenings. Among women, the most common hereditary cancer risks involve breast and ovarian cancer. If these conditions are present in the family, the risk for daughters and granddaughters can be significantly higher.
Atherosclerosis and Hypertension
Cardiologists emphasize that cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis and high blood pressure, often run in families. These conditions may be inherited across multiple generations.
