Jewish genetic disorders are conditions that although not exclusive to Jewish people, are relatively more common in people of Jewish ancestry than in the general population. If you or a family member is Jewish and has unexplained symptoms that you believe could be a Jewish genetic disorder, you should raise these concerns with your GP.
Your GP will always consider the most obvious cause for a group of symptoms. However it is possible that they may not consider the option of a Jewish genetic disorder. This may be because:
- Some Jewish genetic disorders are extremely rare so your GP may not have come across the disorder before
- Symptoms may not be specific to the disorder and may present in a similar way to the symptoms of more common conditions
- Some disorders can exhibit a range of symptoms even within members of the same family
- There may be no history of the disorder within your family
- They may not know that you have Jewish ancestry
Help your doctor to help you
Ensure that your healthcare professional is aware of:
- Your Jewish ancestry, and in particular if you are of Ashkenazi origin
- Any relevant family history of a Jewish genetic disorder
- Symptoms that match those of the disorder you are concerned about – compare the symptoms which are concerning you with those listed on this website and print out the relevant web page to show your doctor
- The Jnetics web portal providing information on Jewish genetic disorders for healthcare professionals
For further support on talking to your GP about Jewish genetic disorders, do contact us at info@jnetics.org.