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Running Away from What "Runs in the Family"


What "Runs in the Family"
In a usual Filipino setting, parents would caution their children to be careful of what and how much they eat because of the possibility of acquiring a disease that “runs in the family”. “Na sa dugo natin ‘yan,” they would say. Children and grandchildren would also frequently hear stories from their relatives of their blood’s family or medical history and become updated with records and illnesses of their ancestors. Indeed, one’s genetic makeup does affect the health of a person. It is, however, also true that besides being genetically inherited, some of these disease may sometimes (if not most) be caused by one’s family environment—the shared living space, eating habits, and many more. In other words, health is dependent on both nature and nurture.
In the Philippines, ten of the deadliest diseases include coronary heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, diabetes, tuberculosis, hypertension, lung disease, kidney disease, breast cancer, and asthma; several of these may be linked to the hereditary aspect. Although the country ranked 139 among 201 countries in terms of life expectancy ("These Are The Top 10 Deadliest Diseases In The Philippines Right Now", 2017), it is still important to know more about some of these diseases in order to decrease the chances of acquiring them since they “run in the family.”
Cardiovascular Disease
Former Department of Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa dubbed coronary heart disease as “the silent epidemic.” ("These Are The Top 10 Deadliest Diseases In The Philippines Right Now", 2017) Up to date, cardiovascular disease still holds to be the country’s top killer. It accounts for approximately 17% of the total deaths in the Philippines.  The disease is also known as ischemic heart disease, and it prevents blood from reaching the coronary arteries, thus depriving the heart of the blood supply it needs. Angina, heart attack, and atherosclerosis are some the diseases classified under this ("These Are The Top 10 Deadliest Diseases In The Philippines Right Now", 2017).

High blood pressure, heart disease, and other related conditions may be due to genetic factors, but people who share common environments, family history, and other potential factors also increase their risk of acquiring the disease.


Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which one’s blood glucose or blood sugar is elevated or kept beyond normal. Prolonging diabetes has its serious consequences such as heart disease, and even the need to amputate a limb ("Diabetes | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes | MedlinePlus", 2017).
In an article published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on diabetes, Dr. Ma. Cecille Añonuevo-Cruz, a doctor specializing in endocrinology and internal medicine said that the incidence of diabetes worldwide is far greater than what was expected (Alviar, 2017). The International Diabetes Federation said in 2000 that there would be 320 million diabetics globally by 2025, but just last 2015, 415 million aged 20-79 were already diabetic. It was also mentioned that there is a risk of the disease to be passed on through generations, similar to cancer. Incidence is also high among people with vascular disease and women with polycystic ovary syndrome. According to a research abroad, children born over eight pounds or to moms with gestational diabetes are also likely to acquire the disease (Alviar, 2017).
Cancer
One of the most feared diseases due to its incurability is cancer. Cancer involves abnormal cell growth that has the potential spread through other parts of the body (“What is Cancer?”, 2017). Malignant cells can spread from the primary tumor, go through the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels, and form secondary tumors at different parts of the body (“What is Cancer?”, 2017). When the cancer reaches a more extensive level, the harder it is to eradicate. This is what causes cancer to become very fatal.


In the Philippines, the number 1 leading cancer is colorectal cancer (gastrointestinal cancer). In an article published by The Philippine Star, Dr. Frederick Dy, president of Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG), declared at a news conference marking March as Colon and Rectal Cancer Awareness Month, “Over the past years, we thought, in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, the liver is supposed to be the number one cancer in the Philippines…But right now, it has been overtaken by colorectal (CRC) cancer." (Afinidad-Bernardo, 2017).
IT’S NOT [ENTIRELY] YOUR GENE’S FAULT
While it is true that genes play a role in the possibility of one these diseases, it is also true that one’s environment can also be attributed to such acquisition. A study was conducted in the United Kingdom last 2016 in relation to this topic. In the research, medical histories of more than 500,000 people and their families (including blood and adoptive relatives) were studied. In the study, they found out that factors shared by family members can have a significant influence on a person's risk for some diseases. These factors include the same living space and similar eating habits. The authors of the study also contended that the impact of genes on disease risk may be overestimated by 47 percent when shared family factors aren't taken into account ("Family lifestyles may be as important to health as genes", 2017).
Although it pays to know the family disease that may be linked to your genes, it pays even more to take a step in changing your lifestyle (and of the others around you) in order to reduce the risk of acquiring such diseases. It starts with reducing your fast food intake, doing daily exercise, and inviting your family to do the same. Since you can’t stop your genes from giving your the risk, might as well stop external factors that may add to this risk. Remember, it’s not just your genes. It’s you.

REFERENCES
  1. Diabetes | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes | MedlinePlus. (2017). Medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html
  2. Alviar, V. (2017). The Philippines is now a diabetes hotspot. Lifestyle.inquirer.net. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/225706/the-philippines-is-now-a-diabetes-hotspot/
  3. Common Genetically Inherited Diseases - Family Tree. (2017). Family Tree. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/common-genetically-inherited-diseases/
  5. These Are The Top 10 Deadliest Diseases In The Philippines Right Now. (2017). eCompareMo. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from https://www.ecomparemo.com/info/these-are-the-top-10-deadliest-diseases-in-the-philippines-right-now/
  6. Afinidad-Bernardo, D. (2017). Colorectal cancer now Philippines' number 1 cancer. philstar.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from http://www.philstar.com/health-and-family/2017/03/08/1679163/colorectal-cancer-now-philippines-number-1-cancer
  7. Family lifestyles may be as important to health as genes. (2017). UPI. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from https://www.upi.com/Family-lifestyles-may-be-as-important-to-health-as-genes/9281469663078/
  8. What Is Cancer?. (2017). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 19 October 2017, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

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