A man’s age and family history affect the health and future of his family, and understanding that role is critical to being engaged as a husband and father.
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From installing that top-of-the-line alarm system to buying a brand-new Volvo, the safety of your family members has always been your highest concern. It’s only natural—you care deeply about your loved ones. But, perhaps what hasn’t crossed your mind is how you have some bearing on their risk of developing a number of health conditions.
A man’s age and family history affect the health and future of his family, and understanding that role is critical to being engaged as a husband and father.
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Age
Women have long been admonished about the dangers of giving birth as they age, but recent studies have shown a correlation between the age of a father and a baby’s health as well. Data from 60 research teams across the globe revealed that men over the age of 35 have a 50 percent lower chance of conceiving in a year than those 25 or younger.
Once a man turns 40, the risk of premature birth and miscarriage also rises. Once 50, the chance of a pregnancy ending with the loss of the fetus becomes twice as likely. Children conceived with fathers older than 40 also have a higher risk of epilepsy, Down syndrome, childhood leukemia, and central nervous system cancers.
An increased risk of eye cancer, autism, schizophrenia, and dwarfism also exists in children whose fathers are over the age of 45. Age isn’t a factor to take lightly in considering fatherhood and the health of future children.
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Family Health History
When talking about health and genetics, many people consider the mother’s side of the family to be the most critical, especially as it relates to passing on gynecological cancers. Yet the father’s family history must be considered as well. Of the 5 to 10 percent of breast and ovarian cancers that are genetically determined, half are inherited from a woman’s mother, but the other half are inherited from her father.
A history of breast cancer in a child’s father, brother, or uncle also increases his or her risk of breast cancer, and a history of prostate cancer in one or more first-degree relatives may also enhance a child’s risk of breast cancer, especially if the prostate cancer was found in the relative at a young age.
If a man has a family history of ovarian or breast cancer among his female relatives, particularly if they developed the cancer at an early age, he could be carrying a genetic mutation. This is another important consideration. This mutation could increase the likelihood of both cancers being passed on to his daughters.
Over the past 20 years, there has been increased publicity as it relates to the BRCA mutations that cause an increased risk for women to develop breast or ovarian cancer. These inherited mutations are in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, and many incorrectly believe they can only be passed down from one woman to another.
Yet these genes aren’t on the X chromosome; they’re on the chromosomes passed down by either sex. They also signify an increased risk for endometrial and uterine cancer, as well as colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, which can affect a man’s sons and daughters.
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What Are Your Next Steps?
A recent survey found that 96 percent of Americans believe knowing their family health history is vital, but only one-third of Americans have ever tried to gather and write down the information.
If someone in the family has a history of cancer, it’s important for him or her to be tested for the genetic mutation first. If the test comes back negative, testing the rest of the family is unnecessary. If it’s positive, however, others in the family should consider receiving the test to determine whether the mutation has been passed on.
For those wanting to collect and organize their family health history and share it with their doctors, the surgeon general offers a free web-based tool called My Family Health Portrait.
This tool encourages people to assemble a list of all of their blood relatives and ask them questions about diseases they’ve had, when they were diagnosed, and the age of death if appropriate. Once the information has been collected, it can be recorded in the tool, shared, and discussed with doctors and other family members.
You probably don’t think about how you indirectly impact your children’s health on a daily basis, but consider this article an important reminder: Know your health history, and understand the implications your age and genetics can have on those you love.
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