Hereditary diseases
- What are hereditary diseases?
- What are genetic studies and how important are they?
- What are the most common hereditary diseases?
- How are hereditary diseases diagnosed?
- Which specialist would typically deal with and treat hereditary diseases?
What are hereditary diseases?
Hereditary diseases, also known as inherited diseases or genetic disorders, are defined and categorised as being a set of genetic diseases that are caused by changes in one's genetic material (DNA). These diseases are then transmitted from generation to generation, or in other words, they are inherited from parents to their children.
What are genetic studies and how important are they?
Genetic studies allow the identification of genes related to and/or responsible for a specific pathology. In addition, they allow personalised attention to each patient, and determine the risk in those cases with a family history of the disease. If a genetic study is performed thoroughly, many deaths can be avoided.
What are the most common hereditary diseases?
There are, unfortunately, a wide variety of hereditary diseases that people suffer from today. The most common ones include the following:
- skin cancer
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- arthritis
- sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS)
- marfan syndrome
- breast cancer
- prostate cancer
- lung cancer
- muscular dystrophy
How are hereditary diseases diagnosed?
These kinds of genetic diseases can be detected through genetic testing.
Which specialist would typically deal with and treat hereditary diseases?
The majority of hereditary diseases, particularly cancer, can be treated by a medical oncologist.


How do I know if I have an inherited heart condition?
By Dr Amanda Varnava
2022-05-23
Inherited heart conditions are passed on through families and can prove life-threatening if not detected and treated. Dr Amanda Varnava, a leading cardiologist, explains how common they are and what symptoms they might display. See more
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Professor Sanjay Sharma
CardiologyExpert in:
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Professor Gerald Carr-White
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Dr Amanda Varnava
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Professor Christoph Nienaber
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Dr Jasveer Mangat
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Lyca Health
1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, Central LondonExpert in:
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