Because the heart muscle is controlled by the automatic (involuntary) nervous system, we often take our heartbeat for granted. The characteristic, steady rhythm that sounds like “lub, dub…lub, dub…lub,dub” is controlled by our body’s very own coordinated...
Prospective parents at risk of passing inherited conditions to their children have a few options when it comes to family planning, including having a child without medical intervention, adopting a child or choosing not to have children at all. For individuals and...
One of the leading causes of infant death is a genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy, also known as SMA. While SMA is genetic, most people are unaware of the risk of having a child with SMA until they either have a child with this disorder or their SMA...
Approximately 200,000 people in the United States are at risk for Huntington disease because they have a parent with the condition. If you are among those at risk, you know that family planning is a complicated prospect. People with Huntington disease, or at risk for...
If you’re thinking about starting or expanding your family, you may wonder if you or your partner have a heritable genetic disease. And, if so, how can you prevent your offspring from inheriting a disabling condition? Genetic carrier screening is the first step...
