Expectant mothers, look here, five diseases will be "left" to the baby

Although genetic diseases are scary, their harm can be relatively reduced if they are prevented early. Therefore, expectant mothers should do their homework before pregnancy and understand the genetic history of both sides of the family so that they can prepare and take measures in advance.

Genetic diseases refer to diseases caused by changes in genetic material before or during the formation of the fertilized egg. Some genetic diseases manifest themselves at birth, while others appear normal at birth but gradually manifest themselves days, months, or even years or decades after birth. Here are some common genetic diseases and how to prevent them.

1. Allergies or asthma. If only one parent suffers from asthma or is allergic to a certain item such as peanut butter, pollen, dust, etc., the child's chance of having the same problem is 30% to 50%. If both parents suffer from asthma or allergies, the child's chance of getting the same problem will increase to 80%. Recommendations: Adhere to breastfeeding and choose formula milk with fewer allergens; try not to keep pets at home; now is the season when various flowers are blooming, and there is more pollen in the evening, so children should try to go out less and wear glasses and masks when going out.

2. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia. If one of the parents suffers from high blood lipids or high blood pressure, the child's chance of developing the disease is about 50%; if both parents suffer from high blood lipids or high blood pressure, the child's chance of developing the disease will reach 75%. In addition, if one of the grandparents has heart disease, the child’s chances of getting the disease are also very high.

Recommendation: In addition to giving your child regular physical examinations, it is crucial to control the intake of fat and sweets. After the age of 1, you should ensure that they have a balanced diet every day, exercise regularly, and avoid accumulating too much fat. In addition, studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of children suffering from high blood lipids, so breastfeeding should be insisted on as much as possible.

3. Obesity. If one of the parents is severely obese, that is, suffers from obesity, the child has a 40% chance of being overweight; if both parents are obese, the child has a 70% chance of being obese. Experts warn that the problem of overweight in childhood cannot be ignored because it is likely to lead to diabetes, early heart disease, asthma and cancer.

Recommendation: Parents should first set an example and develop healthy eating and exercise habits. Children should drink less sugary drinks and watch TV for no more than 2 hours a day. After a child is 2 years old, he or she should have regular physical examinations and have a doctor determine whether the overall index is normal so as to detect any weight problems with the child as early as possible.

4. Diabetes. If the father has type 1 diabetes and has always been insulin-dependent or was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager, the chance of inheriting the disease is 1 in 17. Studies have shown that 20% to 40% of children inherit the disease from their mothers. Type 2 diabetes is a weight-related form of diabetes that is more heritable.

Recommendation: Keep in good shape and keep exercising. If your child is overweight and has a family history of diabetes, it is best to have a blood test after the child is 10 years old to determine whether he has type 2 diabetes.

5. Myopia. If both parents are severely myopic, the probability of their offspring being myopic is very high; if one parent is severely myopic and the other is a carrier of the gene, the probability of it being passed on to the child is also very high; if both parents are carriers of the disease-causing gene, although they themselves are not myopic, their disease-causing genes will be passed on to the child, causing the child to have two myopia genes and a high chance of developing myopia.

Recommendation: For most children, a diagnosis by a pediatrician is sufficient. But for children with a family history of eye problems, it is necessary to be examined by an ophthalmologist. If a child has amblyopia, the most effective treatment is if it is started before the age of 3, so it is particularly important to make a diagnosis as early as possible.

In addition, eating more sweets will contribute to the development of myopia. Because the metabolism of sugar in the human body requires a large amount of vitamin B1, it will reduce the calcium content in the body, thereby weakening the elasticity of the eyeball wall and causing myopia to worsen. Therefore, children with myopia should eat less sweets.