Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic condition that results in weakness and wasting of muscles in infants. For diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), certain tests are carried out to check if your child has this condition. Read more: How Do You Diagnose Spinal Muscular Atrophy? Article
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Genetics: 11 Surprising Things Your Genes Say About You
Explore what role DNA plays in your health, love life, and more in this WebMD slideshow.
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Family Health History: Genetics, DNA Testing and Your Health
WebMD explains why your doctor asks about your relatives' health conditions and how you can get the information if you don’t know.
Related Disease Conditions
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Genetic Diseases
The definition of a genetic disease is a disorder or condition caused by abnormalities in a person's genome. Some types of genetic inheritance include single inheritance, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, and hemochromatosis. Other types of genetic diseases include multifactorial inheritance. Still other types of genetic diseases include chromosome abnormalities (for example, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome), and mitochondrial inheritance (for example, epilepsy and dementia).
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Genetic Counseling
Your health care provider may refer you to a genetic professional. Universities and medical centers also often have affiliated genetic professionals, or can provide referrals to a genetic professional or genetics clinic. Genetic counseling provides patients and family members the tools to make the right choice in regard to test for a disease or condition.
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Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatable?
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a type of motor neuron disease that is hereditary. Treatment of spinal muscular atrophy includes prescription medication, suctioning mucus from the throat, external oxygen support and breathing exercises.
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What Does Amniocentesis Test For?
Amniocentesis is a procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid (the fluid present around the unborn baby in the uterus) is removed for testing or treatment purposes. The amniotic fluid contains fetal cells and various proteins.
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Who Should Get Genetic Counselling?
Genetic counseling is the process that helps you in determining hereditary or genetic (running in your family) problems that might affect you or your family. It is done by a trained professional.
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