People’s health is a major factor in their mental well-being and happiness. However, there are illnesses that affect us, some more serious and others less, and which have a strong impact on our lives. Some of these diseases are caused by viruses, others by our bad habits and others by genetic causes.

In this article we have made a list of the main diseases and genetic disorders .

The most common genetic diseases

Some diseases have a genetic origin and are hereditary. Here are the main ones.

1. Huntington’s Korea

Huntington’s Chorea is a genetic and incurable disease characterized by the degeneration of neurons and cells of the central nervous system and causes various physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. Since there is no cure, it can lead to death, usually within 10 to 25 years.

It is an autosomal dominant disorder, which means that children have a 50% chance of developing it and passing it on to their offspring. Treatment focuses on limiting the progression of the disease, and although it can sometimes occur in childhood, it usually begins between the ages of 30 and 40. Its symptoms include uncontrolled movements, difficulty swallowing, walking problems, memory loss and speech difficulties. Death can occur from drowning, pneumonia and heart failure.

2. Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is on this list because it is one of the most frequent hereditary pathologies and it occurs due to the lack of a protein that has the mission of balancing the chloride in the organism. Among its symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, the following stand out: breathing difficulties, digestion and reproduction problems. For a child to develop the disease, both parents must be carriers. Therefore, there is a 1 in 4 chance that the child will suffer from it.

3. Down syndrome

Down syndrome, also called trisomy 21, affects approximately 1 in 800 to 1,000 newborns . It is a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome. Chromosomes contain hundreds or even thousands of genes, which carry the information that determines a person’s traits and characteristics.

This disorder causes delays in the way a person develops, mentally, but also manifests itself with other physical symptoms, as those affected have particular facial characteristics, decreased muscle tone, heart and digestive system defects.

4. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The symptoms of this disease usually start before the age of 6 . Thixag_12 is a genetic disorder and a type of muscular dystrophy characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, which begins in the legs and then gradually progresses to the upper body, leaving the person in a chair. It is caused by a deficiency of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact.

The disease mainly affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls. Until recently, the life expectancy of these people was very low, not exceeding adolescence. Today, within their limitations, they can study careers, work, get married and have children.

5. Fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome or Martin-Bell syndrome is the second cause of genetically-based mental retardation , which is linked to the X chromosome. The symptoms of this syndrome can affect different areas, especially behavior and cognition, and cause metabolic disturbances. It is more common in men, although it can affect women as well.

  • You can read more about this syndrome in our article: “Fragile X syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment”

6. Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA)

This disease affects the red blood cells, which it deforms, altering their functionality and, therefore, their success in transporting oxygen. It often causes acute episodes of pain (abdominal, chest and bone pain), which are called sickle cell crises. The body itself also destroys these cells, resulting in anemia.

7. Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy

Another type of muscular dystrophy of genetic origin and with degenerative consequences that affect voluntary muscles . It is named after the first person who described it, Dr. Peter Emil Becker, in the 1950s.

Duchenne, this disease causes fatigue, weakening of the muscles, etc. However, the muscle weakness of the upper body is more severe in the disease and the weakening of the lower body is progressively slower. People with this condition usually do not need a wheelchair until they are about 25 years old.

8. Celiac disease

This condition, of genetic origin, affects the digestive system of the affected person . It is estimated that 1% of the population suffers from this disease, which causes the immune system of people with coeliac disease to react aggressively when gluten, a protein present in cereals, circulates through the digestive tract. This disease should not be confused with gluten intolerance, because although they are related they are not the same. Gluten intolerance, in fact, is not a disease; however, some people claim to feel better if they don’t eat this protein.

9. Thalassemias

Thalassemias are a group of hereditary blood disorders in which haemoglobin , the oxygen-carrying molecule, is malformed when synthesised by red blood cells. The most common is beta-thalassemia, and the least common is alpha-thalassemia.

It causes anemia and therefore fatigue, shortness of breath, arm swelling, bone pain and weak bones. People with this condition have a poor appetite, dark urine, and jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes, jaundice is a sign of liver dysfunction).

10. Edwards syndrome

This hereditary disease is also called Trisomy 18 , and occurs from an extra full copy of the chromosome in the 18th pair. Affected persons usually have slow growth before birth (intrauterine growth retardation) and low birth weight, as well as heart defects and other organ abnormalities that develop before birth. Facial features are characterized by a small jaw and mouth, and those affected often tend to have a clenched fist.