Explaining the Importance of Premarital Genetic Testing UAE | Nama Health Genetic Disorder – Premarital genetic testing is mandatory in UAE: If parents have diabetes and high BP, then the risk to children increases, understand from the doctor. Achi-News

combined The Government of the Arab Emirates (UAE) has made a major decision regarding health. The Department of Health there has made ‘Premarital Genetic Testing’ mandatory, which will come into effect on October 1, 2024. Under this rule, it will be mandatory for couples to undergo genetic testing before marriage in the United Arab Emirates.

The government of Abu Dhabi has made this decision for the benefit of future generations. Couples will have to undergo these tests before marriage, so that the genetic health of the parents can be ascertained and that no genetic disorders are passed on to the children.

Think of it this way, we get a certain DNA sequence or chromosome structure from our parents. The genes present in them determine what we will look like, our appearance, our structure, our habits and our behaviour. This is all expression of genes. If there is some defect or mutation in them, then it will be passed on to the generations to come as well. Because of this, children can suffer from many diseases or problems. In most cases, there is no treatment and the baby dies.

so today’In the medical record‘I will talk about genetic diseases. You will also learn that-

In which countries in the world are genetic tests before marriage compulsory?

Genetic diseases have long been a challenge to the healthcare system. As scientific research on these diseases progressed, we came to understand that genetic diseases are not fate. It is in our hands to stop them.

Rules regarding this were also made in many countries of the world, where pre-marital genetic testing was made compulsory before marriage. These are those countries where there was a very high proportion of such diseases.

See the graphic below –

What are genetic tests?

Genetic testing is a type of medical test. Through this, changes in genes, chromosomes or proteins are detected. Its results provide information about three major things:

There are currently more than 77,000 genetic tests being carried out. More research is still going on on this.

Why is premarital genetic testing important?

Dr says Meenakshi Bansal, Senior Consultant Gynecologist at Shri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, that genetic testing is very important before marriage and especially before conception. Genetic conditions are more likely to occur in countries with large populations such as China and India. It can be passed on to children.

If either parent has a serious genetic condition, the likelihood of their children passing it on increases. If that genetic condition is present in both parents, then the probability that the child will have a genetic disorder increases by 50%. In such a situation, it is important that the parents know about this in advance and can plan better for the child.

What tests are required for this?

Several types of screening have been developed to detect genetic disorders. In this regard, general tests like complete blood count, blood group are also conducted. Apart from this, Hb variation tests are carried out to detect the possibility of thalassemia and sickle cell. There are many more such tests. See the details in the graphic below.

What diseases can be caused by genetic conditions?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, around 1% of the world’s children are born with a chromosomal problem. This can also cause disorders such as Down syndrome. In this regard, the child’s intellectual ability does not develop and it also affects physical development. See the complete list of genetic diseases below –

How does genetic testing help with baby planning?

Dr says Meenakshi Bansal that there is a lot of confusion about genetic testing in India. Most people think that if there is a possibility that the child will have a genetic disorder due to the couple’s conception, then it is advisable not to have a child, but this is not true at all. Genetic testing has been started so that parents can be more prepared for the child to come into this world. If the child’s life is in danger, think carefully about it and make an informed decision. Risk is assessed through genetic testing and couples are counseled for this.

Dr Meenakshi Bansal says there is a lot of lack of awareness about genetic testing in our country. For this, awareness programs and advertisements need to be run by the government, so that the young generation can become aware of this. With this, the generations to come in the country will be more healthy and active.

Are genes also responsible for diabetes and hypertension?

Dr Meenakshi says that these are lifestyle diseases, but if one or both parents have such a disease, then there is an increased possibility that the child will also develop this disease. Such people get these diseases at a younger age than others.

However, Dr Meenakshi says that even if our parents are diabetic or hypertensive, we can avoid these diseases by maintaining a good lifestyle. With this, we will not only protect ourselves from these diseases, we will also not pass on lifestyle diseases to our children.

In India, young people between the ages of 25 and 30 usually become parents for the first time. In such a situation, there is a high possibility that he will not have suffered any lifestyle disease until this age. In such a situation, we will have to see whether any of the parents of the new parents had any such disease or not. If so, then raise the child very carefully and give him such an upbringing that he does not fall prey to lifestyle diseases.