New studies have revealed that especially girls can inherit mutated genes from their mothers that make them more prone to develop a number of diseases later in life. Cancer researchers at the University of London discovered a 57% chance that a girl will begin menstruating not more than three months before or after the date her mother started. Checking their mother’s health record might give women the chance to take early precautions and reduce the risk of serious illness.

If your mother had migraines, there is a 70 to 80% chance that you will develop the same symptoms at some point in your life. Obesity is another genetic high-risk disease that you have a 50% chance of developing when your mother is overweight. The same high percentages were found for rheumatoid arthritis (50%) and developing early menopause (75-80%).

Some diseases like breast cancer (3%), Alzheimer’s (3-5%) or depression (10%) exhibit weaker genetic links. Because of the gravity of the conditions, it is nevertheless sensible to be aware of one’s genetic risk and take the necessary precautions. Women affected by breast cancer can use genetic screenings to determine their risk of developing the disease. Some even go as far as having prophylactic mastectomies.

Mutated genes can be identified for all of these diseases to increase the risk for people that carry them. Still, they do not determine which women actually develop the disease and which do not. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including eating healthy, working out, reducing alcohol and nicotine intake, as well as avoiding stress can help decrease the risk of serious illness even for genetically predisposed women.