killers-will your relatives' health problems be passed on to you and your children?

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Killers lurking in your family tree: Will yourrelatives' health problems be passed on to you

and your children?

By Anna Hodgekiss

Last updated at 8:44 AM on 6th September 2011

Tara Sinclair always considered her family to be healthy.

My sister, brother and I are all hale and hearty, and rarely ill, says the 39-year-old from Lichfield,

Staffordshire.

But when Tara began researching her family history, she got a shock.

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Tara Sinclair is worried about the health of her three young children - because of health conditions on her husband Neil's side of the

family

My parents divorced when I was very young, and when I made contact with my dads side of the family many

years later I realised how ill the gene pool is. Bad hearts, diabetes, even depression miserable stuff. Now

Im starting to wonder how healthy we really are.

Tara is even more worried about the health of her three young children Sam, nine, Jude, eight, and Libby,

four because of health conditions on her husband Neils side of the family.

His dad was the first man in four generations to make it to 60 because their hearts are so bad, so its a real

worry for us, says Tara, a freelance writer and PR.

Neil, 41, a househusband and author, has already been diagnosed with high cholesterol, but manages to keep

it at a borderline reading of 5.3 through strict attention to diet and exercise.

What concerns Tara are conditions farther up the family tree which might have a genetic link, such as bi-polar

disorder and Parkinsons.

My mum admitted shed kept quiet about some conditions farther back in the family, as she didnt want to

worry me, says Tara.

Now the internet has made tracing family history much easier, increasing numbers of us are able to discover


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what ailments our ancestors had and the potential implications for our own health.

DAD'S SIDE: Great-great grandfather Napoleon Sinclair (left), died of a heart attack aged 60. Great-great grandmother Olive Williams

(right), died of ovarian cancer aged 50


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Grandmother Ann Sinclair (left), 69, has high blood pressure and cholesterol. Great-aunt Barbara Lyne (right), 67, had a hip

replacement due to arthritis

Grandfather Peter Sinclair, 66, has high blood pressure and cholesterol

Family history is increasingly recognised as having an important role in diagnosis, says Dr Helen Stokes-

Lampard, of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Breast cancer, gynaecological problems such as fibroids and polycystic ovarian syndrome and heart diseasein the under-50s can all run in families, she adds.

So far, scientists have identified genes that increase the risk of about 400 conditions two of the most

notable being cystic fibrosis and Parkinsons, says Dr Katie Featherstone, research fellow at the ESRC Centre

for Social and Economic Aspects of Genomics at Cardiff University.

However, we know that other disorders, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and schizophrenia, are

not caused by a single gene it is a combination of genetic (several genes with small effect, all working

separately) and environmental (diet, lifestyle) factors.

So, what impact will the health of Neils and Taras ancestors have on their three young childrens health?

We showed their family tree to a panel of experts who assessed the risk with implications for all of us.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, STROKES

Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure rarely has symptoms.

Around 5.7million Britons are thought to have the condition but not know it. Yet left untreated, it increases the

risk of stroke or heart attack, both of which are very prevalent in this family.

YOUR RISK: If one of your parents has high blood pressure, your risk of developing it is 15per cent or even

higher, say experts.

In the case of the Sinclair children, their risk is determined by whether Tara or Neil develop the condition.

However, Tara in particular must be especially vigilant, says Dr Anand Saggar, genetics specialist at the

London Clinic.

She is at risk not only because her father has it, but because type 2 diabetes (which he also has) increases

the risk of cardiovascular problems.

The fact several members of Neils family have high blood pressure is also concerning, says Dr Lisa Walker,

consultant in Clinical Genetics at Spire Dunedin Hospital, Reading and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals.

And on Taras side, the childrens great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother (both called Florence) had

a brain haemorrhage. There are several types of these, but often it is a type of stroke where instead of a clot,


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a brain bleed occurs, explains Dr Walker.

Again, this could have been caused by high blood pressure. The fact that farther down the line Robert and

John, the childrens grandfather and great-uncle, both have high blood pressure, reinforces this possibilty.

Preventative measures include following a healthy lifestyle and limiting salt intake to 6g daily.

MUM'S SIDE: Great-great grandmother Florence Potter (left), died aged 56 of brain haemorrhage. Great grandmother Ruby Eveson(right), died aged 67 from liver cancer


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Great grandfather Wilfred Eveson (left) died aged 69 of a heart attack. Great aunt Maeve Reid (right), 61, has migraines and an

underactive thyroid

Grandfather Robert Lucas, 69, has diabetes and high blood pressure

HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND HEART ATTACKS

The most striking thing about Neils side of the family is the number of people with high cholesterol, says Dr

Walker.

Given that his father and brother are apparently slim non-smokers, I think its highly likely the family suffers

from a condition called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.

This is caused by a gene alteration where fats are not metabolised properly in the blood and accumulate in the

arteries.

Affecting around 110,000 Britons, it can cause early onset heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. A

genetic link is also suggested by the fact Neil was diagnosed at only 33 with high cholesterol.

YOUR RISK: If one of your parents has Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, you have a 50 per cent chance ofdeveloping it, says Dr Nigel Capps, of cholesterol charity HEART UK.

When it comes to heart attacks, if you have a brother or father who has had a heart attack before the age of

55, or a mother or sister who suffers one before the age of 65, you are at greater risk of heart disease. Several

of Neils male relatives had heart attacks.

Genetic testing is available for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, says Dr Walker. Family members can receive

treatment, such as statins, before problems develop. Unfortunately, because of NHS funding issues, genetic

testing is not routinely available.

Those with a family history of heart problems should be attentive to leading a healthy lifestyle, says Amy


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Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. This includes moderate exercise where

you get your heart rate up and cheeks flushed for 30 minutes, five days a week.

UNDERACTIVE THYROID

This occurs when the body doesnt produce enough of the hormone thyroxine; symptoms include fatigue and

weight gain. It is seven times more common in women.

YOUR RISK: Having a sibling or mother with an underactive thyroid means youre 20 times more likely to getit, says Dr Mark Cohen, consultant endocrinologist at the Spire Bushey Hospital, Hertfordshire.

The fact her sister Samantha, 44, has it, as did their aunt, Maeve Reid, means Tara should be vigilant, he

says.

Tara should have a thyroid function test to check her thyroxine levels.

Whether she develops it will determine her childrens risk when they are older, especially Libby.

Bipolar disorder: The children's great-grandfather - and his father - were said to have suffered from the condition

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Previously known as manic depression, bipolar disorder causes periods or episodes of depression and

mania, usually triggered by stress. Thought to be caused partly by a chemical imbalance in the brain, bi-polar

can also have a significant genetic factor.

YOUR RISK: If a parent is affected, the risk to each of their children is 10-15per cent, says Dr Walker.

This indicates that it is likely to have a genetic component, but other factors (that we dont understand yet)


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play a part.

The childrens great-grandfather and his father were said to have suffered from bipolar disorder.

But as Dr Walker explains: Looking at this family, the affected individuals are genetically a long way removed,

so we wouldnt be concerned.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Untreated, this can lead to nerve damage, sight problems and, in extreme cases, amputation.

YOUR RISK: On average, if either parent has the condition, the risk of developing it is 15per cent. If both

parents have the condition, the risk of developing it is 75per cent. However, other factors such as being

overweight, inactive and eating an unhealthy diet can increase the risk, says Dr Saggar.

Taras father had diabetes, diagnosed in his 50s. The childrens risk will be raised if Tara and/or develops it.

Weight loss and exercise reduce the risk or delay onset.

MIGRAINE

As many as eight million Britons are thought to suffer from migraines, with varying degrees of severity andfrequency.

YOUR RISK: First-degree relatives (ie. a child or sibling) of someone diagnosed with migraine without visual

disturbances (aura) are 1.9 times more likely to suffer.

For migraine with aura, the genetic link is less an increased risk of 1.4 times. There is no way of reducing

an inherited risk of migraine, but you should be vigilant for possible triggers.

The childrens uncle Mark and great-aunt Maeve both suffer from migraine, although they are from different

sides of the family.

Its possible to inherit a genetic predisposition to migraine, but even if you do, theres no guarantee youll

suffer from it, says Susan Haydon, of The Migraine Trust.

Environmental factors such as stress, hormones and dehydration are common triggers.

ARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, caused by wear and tear. It affects around 80 per cent of people at

some time in their life.

YOUR RISK: Contrary to popular belief, osteoarthritis is very rarely inherited, says Dr Saggar. Its usually due

to wear and tear on the joints.

Two relatives have had osteoarthritis the childrens great-aunt Barbara, whos had a hip replacement, andgreat-great aunt Margaret had arthritis in her knees.

Unless someone developed it very young, such as in their teens, we wouldnt be concerned about a genetic

link, says Dr Saggar.

Rheumatoid arthritis, caused by the bodys immune system attacking the joints, might have a stronger genetic

link.

MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE

This disease, which progressively damages the nervous system, causes the muscles to waste away. It tends


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to affect people over 40 and twice as many men as women. The exact cause is unclear, but it can run in

families.

YOUR RISK: In about 10per cent of cases someone will have a close relative with the condition, says Dr

Featherstone.

Great Uncle Alastair has the disease. The family line from Alastair should be vigilant symptoms include

weakened muscle grip and twitches but nothing can be done to prevent it.

The good news, says Dr Saggar, is that no one down the line appears to have developed it.

BREAST/OVARIAN CANCER

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the UK ovarian cancer is the fifth most

common.

YOUR RISK: While 90 per cent of cases are not inherited, when there are two or more cases of ovarian, or

ovarian and breast cancer on the same side of a womans family, this can indicate the possibility of inherited

faulty genes linked to the disease. These are known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Olive, the childrens great-grandmother, died from ovarian cancer at 50, points out Dr Walker.

In the absence of any other cases on this side of the family, it would not raise concern over the possibility of an

alteration in the genes.

PARKINSONS

This progressive neurological condition is caused by the loss of the brain cells producing dopamine, a

chemical that carries nerve signals enabling us to perform co-ordinated movements.

Again, this is a multi-factorial condition, says Dr Walker.

YOUR RISK: First-degree relatives of people with Parkinsons are twice as likely to develop it as relatives of

people without the disease, says Dr Walker. The condition affected the childrens great-great aunt Margaret.

She is genetically a long way removed from the children, so we wouldnt be concerned, adds Dr Walker.

Places:

United Kingdom

Organisations:

British Heart Foundation

Comments (26)

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Life is a dangerous thing, in fact, so dangerous you don't get out alive!

- One day I'll!, The fantasy Island we never reach, 06/9/2011 12:24

Click to rate Rating 2


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Report abuse

Another one to give me a chuckle, the further back you got the less accurate the causes of death, the doctors didnt have the

equipment or diagnostic ability of now , autopsies were few and far between . my family are strange they die in wars , get run over by

carts, fall off roofs etc...maybe we have genetic dyspraxia ? the old ones get the normal signs of ageing and all die age 82 is their a

gene for that?

- kayerunrig, lincoln, 06/9/2011 11:46


Report abuse

One of the reasons I started looking up my family tree was to document the Polycyctic Kidney Disease that runs through the family.

It's been very interesting to see how many of that side of the family have died from kidney related illness and I am now fairly sure I

know where it entered the family. Sadly, 150 years ago, there was no diagnosis or treatment so the family members who had the

gene died very prematurely, sometimes as early as their 30s. Whereas, advance treatment and transplants mean that my dad had a

kidney transplant at 69 and is still going strong five years later, and I'm hoping that by the time I need a kidney, they'll be able to grow

me one in the laboratory.

- Lesley, London, 06/9/2011 11:45


Report abuse

You may have a stronger tendency to develop the problems of your ancestors, but it's no more than that. If you live a different

lifestyle with different thoughts, different food, different everything, you are no more at risk than Joe Soap. I speak from person

experience.

- diana, Geneva, 06/9/2011 11:45


Report abuse

Most of the relatives named above have lived to their mid to late sixties so her gene pool is probably a lot stonger than a lot af

families. With medical science evolving the way it does I can't see they have much to worry about

- me..here..brighton, brighton, 06/9/2011 11:42


Report abuse

So... the bottom line is that eventually you will die of *something* and it's likely to be something inherited. Vigilance is needed if you

want to ensure immortality!!

- caroline, cape town, south africa, 06/9/2011 10:26


Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.


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