An aching head
Seventy to 80 percent of people with migraines have a relative who gets these awful headaches, too, according to the National Headache Foundation. “One of the main risk factors for migraines is a family history of migraines,” Todd Sontag, DO, a family medicine specialist with Orlando Health Physician Associates, told Reader’s Digest.
Body shape
All you have to do is look at some parents and children to know that body shape and size is genetic. Some research suggests that certain body types are more likely to be inherited than others. Belly fat, for instance: An apple-shaped body may be more dependent on genes than being pear-shaped or straight up and down. A larger middle is something to take note of, since an apple shape is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Bleeding gums
If your mum or dad struggled with gingivitis or periodontal disease, it’s important that you pay particular attention to your own mouth, experts say. Up to one-third of people are genetically predisposed to developing gum disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. You know what to do: Floss, brush twice a day and see the dentist twice a year.