Genetic Disease Prevention Strategies for Keeping Your Family Healthy and Well
Genetic diseases, also known as inherited disorders, can be a frightening prospect for families to confront. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take both before and after your loved ones are born to reduce the risk of genetic diseases ever entering your family.
Before Your Family is Born
The first step to reducing the risk of genetic diseases is to understand your family history and genetics. Before you or your partner plan to start a family, you should speak to your healthcare provider or your genetic counselor and find out what inherited disease risks are present in your family.
The second step is to talk with your healthcare provider about preconception genetic counseling. This is a vital step to take as it will arm you and your partner with the knowledge and facts about inherited diseases, and provide guidance on how to reduce the risk of disease in your family. Your healthcare provider also may be able to offer tests that can help identify potential inherited genetic conditions.
The third and final step before your family is born is to talk to a reproductive specialist. If it is determined that you or your partner have a genetic condition that could be passed on to your children, you may need to consider advanced reproductive options such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
After Your Family is Born
Once your family is born, you may need to undergo early genetic testing. Early genetic testing can help identify genetic disorders during infancy or infancy, which is often the time when they are easiest to treat. Early treatment can lead to better health outcomes for your child.
Once your child has been tested, it is important to keep all medical records up-to-date and share with your healthcare provider any new information about any genetic conditions that may be present. This will help ensure that any new treatments and therapies can be tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Finally, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of potential inherited diseases. This includes learning about the behaviors and traits commonly associated with certain inherited disorders. Being knowledgeable about these can help you understand your child’s behaviors, and provide early detection and treatment if a disease is present.
By following these steps, you can help reduce the risk of your family developing a genetic disease, and ensure that any potential diseases are identified early and treated effectively.