8 Questions You Need To Ask Your Mother About Her Health

Your mother’s DNA has a strong influence on your own health. For this reason you should not be afraid to ask her the following eight questions.

1. Did you smoke during pregnancy?

Not an easy start to the dialogue, but not an insignificant question. After all, the negative consequences are widely known. Do you suffer from asthma, allergies or ADHD? The key to these health problems may indicate that your mother smoked during pregnancy. There is also the risk of a higher susceptibility to infections, an increased risk of cancer and a reduced lung capacity.

2. Have you ever had any heart problems?

There are a number of heart diseases that can be inherited by children: coronary diseases, disturbances in the conduction of excitation or heart muscle diseases. If your mother has ever had heart problems, find out when they occurred – and what caused them. Is it possible that another person in your family has the same problems? A question that should be asked in any case.

3. Is there a history of type 2 diabetes?

Also a question about health, which you should definitely ask your mother – if you don’t already know it. Because: The predisposition to type 2 diabetes is hereditary. If close relatives such as your parents or siblings suffer from it, you are up to 60 percent more likely to get it too. Incidentally, this type is promoted by lack of exercise and overweight.

4. Do you or have you had mental problems?

This is a question that requires a particularly high degree of sensitivity. The fact that mental illnesses are hereditary is controversial, as the interplay between heritage and environment is very complex. Nevertheless, anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia, for example, have genetic causes in addition to a number of other factors, as studies have shown. A specific heredity was also discovered in 2013 for postpartum depression. Did your mother suffer from it? Then in any case, if you want to get pregnant, tell your gynecologist.

5. When did your menopause start?

What does the age at which your mother entered menopause have to do with you? Simple: It tells you when you too are most likely to go through menopause. It is one of the most important factors in determining your own fertility window in which to have children. Of course, other factors such as smoking also play a role in the onset of menopause. In addition, the cycles of mother and daughter are said to be quite similar.

6. Are there any cases of breast or ovarian cancer in your family?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In Germany, approximately 46,000 women contract it every year, and around five to ten percent of all malignant tumours are caused by an inherited predisposition. If several women in the family are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at a young age, this is a clear sign of an inherited form of breast cancer. For your own health it is absolutely necessary that you discuss this risk with your mother.

7. Do you have problems with your eyes?

Yes, unfortunately some eye diseases are also hereditary. From the age of 40 onwards, the risk of glaucoma, also known as “green star”, increases steadily. The risk is even higher if parents or siblings are already affected – hereditary factors therefore play a considerable role here. Those who belong to the risk group should undergo regular early detection examinations.

8. Do you have symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, also called bone loss, usually occurs at an advanced age. However, there is also a special form, the so-called juvenile osteoporosis, which is caused by a genetic defect. It can also occur at a young age without any apparent cause. If there are more cases of osteoporosis in your family, you should make sure you eat a balanced diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D. If in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor who measures bone density.