Ignorance is not bliss

Knowledge of which diseases run in your family, especially those developed before age 50, can often help determine which tests you may need and when. Priti Salian gets experts to help interpret medical family history in the case of 5 most common ailments in women, helping you understand what should ring the warning bells for you

Breast Cancer
Breast cancer happens to be the second most commonly occurring cancer in India after cervical cancer. “It is one of those cancers which a woman can get from her mother or grandmother, especially if the relative in question has suffered before 50 years of age,” says Dr. Ameet Dhurandhar, Mumbai-based gynaecologist and obstetrician.

Plan of action: A monthly breast self-examination (preferably a week after your period has ended) is a must for every woman right from the time she is 18-20 years old. Learn the steps from a gynaecologist and in case of any signs of a lump, visit your doctor. Get a mammography every year after you turn 30. Fifteen percent of breast cancer patients are between 30-40 years of age so it is best to be careful than sorry.

Ovarian Cancer
Dr. Dhurandhar confirms that ovarian cancer can be hereditary and though its prevalence is not as high as breast cancer, it does affect plenty of women in India. Just like breast cancer, it could be your first degree relative like mother, sister and daughter and even your grandmother who suffered from the disease that could put you at risk.

Plan of action: “If you fall in this category the best way is to get the CA-125 blood test (a diagnostic test for ovarian cancer) by the age of 18 years, every three years,” says Dr. Dhurandhar. After 30, you can continue to test yourself every year. Visit a gynaecologist for an annual clinical examination and if an abnormality is detected, a sonogram would be advised for further confirmation.

Heart Diseases
“Families which have suffered from heart disease have a good chance of passing it on to their offspring,” says Dr. Balbir Singh, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Medanta, The Medicity Hospital, Gurgaon. A woman whose first degree relative has had a heart disease before the age of 50 and who herself has a sedentary lifestyle with unhealthy eating habits could be at risk as early as 20 years.

Plan of action: Of course, there are a lot of other factors which add to a person’s risk of heart disease, but for complete peace of mind, if you see a family connection, get yourself tested for lipid profile and cholesterol and get kidney tests done, at 18. Dr. Singh also suggests an ECG besides these tests. Repeat the tests every five years if there is no abnormality detected and every year if there is. Hypertension can hit earlier, so blood pressure should be monitored even as a kid.

Diabetes
Recent research indicates that India could soon become the diabetes capital of the world. “A mother who suffers from diabetes is likely to pass on the disease to her daughter, though there’s less chance of a woman getting it from her father,” says an Army doctor from Ranchi. But, again, it is not necessary that a woman whose mother or grandmother has been diabetic also turns into one if she has a fairly healthy lifestyle. There are plenty of reasons which can lead to diabetes. Metabolic problems, hormonal disturbances and pregnancy are just some of them.

Plan of action: Add the blood sugar test to your list every 5 years beginning 18 years if you see yourself at risk.

Depression
“If depression runs in a person’s family it does make one slightly more vulnerable to it,” says Dr. Samir Parikh, Consultant Psychiatrist, Max Healthcare, and Head, Department of Mental health and Behavioural Sciences. “The most important thing here is to be aware that depression is a medical condition which happens due to chemical imbalance and needs to be treated by an expert,” he adds.

Plan of action: The prevalence of depression is high in our country and so if you experience any of its symptoms like loss of interest and pleasure, continued irritability, low mood for extended periods, you must seek medical support immediately.