People often tell us, “I have a genetic problem, my mother is suffering from diabetes”, “My father passed away because of heart attack. There is nothing I can do about it.”
The role of genes is undeniable but it is often exaggerated. Scientists suggest that the most important factor which lead to these lifestyle diseases is unhealthy lifestyle — starting from what we eat, how we eat, when we eat and what physical activities we do.
Myth #1: If it runs in your family, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Yes, if heart conditions run in your family, you are at 50% higher risk of heart disease as compared to others. Having said this, these diseases are still 80% preventable. Healthy behavior changes such as eating a healthier diet, increasing exercise, quitting smoking and keeping your cholesterol in check will help you make tremendous strides towards heart health. The power of prevention is undeniable.
A large study finds that people with the most inherited risk cut their chances of having heart problems in half if they didn’t smoke, ate well, exercised and stayed slim.
“If you are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, it is more important you follow a heart-healthy lifestyle and take medications to control these dangerous risk factors, and avoid or delay the onset of these diseases,” says Dr. Gillinov, Cardiac Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic.
Myth #2: Diabetes is hereditary and runs in family.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetic and behavioral factors. Scientists have linked gene mutations to a diabetes. But not everyone who carries a mutation will get diabetes. It is difficult to separate behavior factors from the equation because behavior also tends to run in families — parents with healthy eating habits are likely to pass them onto the next generation making behavior a stronger factor.
So who is to blame, if not genes?
So, basically all we need something or some one to blame for our choices of actions and words. Now, that we have been living our life in an unhealthy way all these years, we live in denial that the diseases that reside within us are due to the life that we have designed. So we make it simple in our heads — it is not us but “Genes”. So, if I am overweight than it is not me who is leading a life that is giving me this but, it is hereditary. Come on look everyone in my family is like that. Yes, they are because they have been leading the exact same life that you are leading today!
A wake up call — Let’s stop the blame game and take ownership if you Type 2 Diabetes or Hypertension or Obesity or a similar chronic condition. Owning that there is a problem is the first step in the journey of finding the solution!
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