Learn

Nature or Nurture

Nature

Have you ever noticed how some family members all favor each other? Maybe they are all tall or short, have light or dark hair, blue or brown eyes. These are visible traits. What you might not see is health problems that run in families.

Our traits and characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next by genes (DNA inside cells). This is called heredity. Genes determine what you look like and also whether you are likely to develop certain diseases.

You cannot actually inherit heart disease or cancer. What you inherit are genes that carry a potential or tendency for developing diseases or disorders. For reasons we do not completely understand, cells change or mutate. This happens more as we age. Some families genetically are more susceptible to cell changes in one way or another. This determines if they are more likely to develop certain diseases.

It is important to know about your family’s health history. Although you cannot change the genes you inherit, you can practice healthy behaviors that prevent or prolong developing diseases that run in your family.

Nurture

How we take care of ourselves makes a difference. Most diseases are not directly caused by genes. There are only a few diseases caused only by inherited genes. Sickle cell anemia (a blood disease) and cystic fibrosis (a lung disease) are two examples of these rare diseases. According to FamilyDoctor.org, "in most cases diseases and other health problems are caused by a combination of genes, our environment, and our lifestyle choices."

For example, if a person has a long family history of heart disease that does not mean that person will inevitably develop the disease. What is does mean is that person and other family members should practice basic health behaviors to prevent heart disease. These are the most basic health habits we should all practice daily to promote our personal health and well-being.

  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get adequate sleep.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Have regular medical checkups.
  • Know your family’s history.

These are the most common diseases and disorders that tend to run in families:

  • Heart diseases
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Addictions

Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

Heart Disease

American Heart Association states, “You are never too young or too old to take good care of your heart. “ No matter your age everyone should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Read “How to Prevent Heart Disease at Any Age" for heart healthy tips. Note the suggestions on how to prevent heart disease in your 20s, 30s, and beyond. Some causes of heart disease we can control. Some we cannot. MedlinePlus published this list of heart disease risk factors that we cannot change.

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Family history

Ask yourself, “What can I do to promote my health if heart disease runs in my family?” For the list of risk factors I can change, read How to Prevent Heart Disease published by MedlinePlus. All controllable risk factors are important to know and practice. Pay particular attention to the last one about sleep. Heart diseases are the leading causes of death in our country for both men and women. It is never too early to practice prevention with a healthy lifestyle.

Cancer

As mentioned earlier, you will not inherit cancer. You can, however, inherit a family tendency toward cancer. Cancer is not a single disease. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Our genes, our lifestyle, and the environment around us may increase or decrease our risk of getting cancer.

Practicing prevention (lowering your chance) can reduce your risk of getting cancer. The National Cancer Institute published this list of risk factors known to cause cancer and those that may affect the risk of cancer.

According to the National Institutes of Health, factors that are known to increase the risk of cancer:

  • Cigarette smoking and tobacco use.
  • Infections
  • Radiation
  • Immune suppressive medicines after organ transplants

The National Institutes of Health says that factors that may affect the risk of cancer are:

  • Diet
  • Alcohol
  • Physical activity (people who exercise lower their risk)
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Environmental risks factors

Although cancer can occur at any age, it is more common as we get older.

According to FamilyDoctor.org, you can lower your chances of getting cancer by taking these steps:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Protect your skin from the sun.
  • Stay a healthy weight and physically active.
  • Limit alcohol. (age appropriate)
  • Stay up-to-date on screenings such as breast, cervical, colon cancer when age-appropriate.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women in the United States. Most lung cancers could be prevented by not smoking.

Skin cancer has the highest number of reported cases each year.

Prevention and early detection is the best defense against cancer.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that prevents the body from properly using glucose (sugar that produces energy). You cannot catch diabetes from another person. However, it does tend to run in families.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 or juvenile diabetes occurs is when the pancreas does not make enough insulin (a hormone that helps the body use sugar). This type of diabetes affects younger people. No one knows exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. It is believed to have something to do with genes.

Read Type 1 Diabetes: What Is It?. Read the section on signs and symptoms. There is a short video if you would like to see exactly what happens in the body to cause diabetes.

How can I take care of myself if I have type 1 diabetes?

  • Take insulin if prescribed by doctor.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Manage stress.
  • Check blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is caused when insulin doesn’t work properly in the body and the blood sugar levels get too high. Most often, type 2 diabetes develops in people over age 45, but more children, teens, and young adults are also developing it. Ninety to ninety five percent of diabetes cases are type 2.

How can I prevent or delay developing diabetes?

  • Get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week.
  • Keep your weight in a healthy range.
  • Eat healthy foods, including lots of fruits and veggies.
  • Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.
  • Don’t smoke.

Read Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Kids for more helpful tips on prevention.

To learn more about the symptoms of diabetes visit Teen Health and read Diabetes Control: Why It’s Important.

It is not clear if eating too much sugar causes diabetes. The main contributors to developing type 2 diabetes are family history of diabetes, getting older, being overweight, and sedentary lifestyle (inactive). As with heart disease, we cannot change some risk factors such as family history or age. Managing weight, eating a healthy diet, and leading a physically active lifestyle is our best defense against diabetes.

Addictions

Addiction is another area of health where our genes can affect our behavior - but our genes are not our destiny. Read the US News and World Report article 5 Tips for Managing Your Health if Your Family Has a History of Addiction.

Addictions are not just about alcohol and drugs. There are behavioral addictions also such as gambling. Like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental, and biological factors.

Genetic risks factors account for about half of the likelihood that an individual will develop addiction. However, both genetic risk factors and the environment have an influence. Growing up in an environment with parents or family members who suffer from addictions has a major influence on young people.

In their scientific study, Bevilacqua and Goldman state, “Addictions are strongly influenced by genetic background and also profoundly influenced by lifestyle and individual choices.”

Bevilacqua, L, and D Goldman. “Genes and addictions.” Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics vol. 85,4 (2009): 359-61. doi:10.1038/clpt.2009.6

Addiction Prevention

Even if there is a family tendency toward addictions, you can make lifestyle choices to avoid addictions.

  • Do not experiment with drugs.
  • Avoid situations and events where there is pressure to use drugs.
  • Do not hang out with peers who use drugs.
  • Ask for help with mental health issues.
  • Manage stress.
  • Set positive goals and focus on reaching them.
  • Work to improve self-esteem.

Read signs and symptoms of addiction and tips for getting help in Dealing With Addiction from Teen’s Health. Having an addiction does not mean a person is bad or weak. It is, however, important to get help early.

There are genetic tendencies in many families for developing diseases or addictions. Making healthy lifestyle choices helps prevent or delay developing these diseases.