Is ignorance bliss when it comes to your health? Wouldn’t we all like to know about more about our genes and your overall genetic health? So how do these genetic health tests help you take better control over your health? There are various genetic predisposition tests around and some of the more thorough ones test for up to twenty eight different illnesses. Here are just a few of the ones people are most aware of.
Diabetes: It would help to Know
Healthy living begins early in life. Prevention is far better than cure; a genetic predisposition test will inform you of the genetic illnesses you may develop later in life. Now knowing you are predisposed to diabetes means you may be aggravating the chances of developing the “silent killer” consistently indulging in the wrong foods and getting used to a diet which could, ultimately, precipitate the illness.
Both Types of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) are hereditary. If one of your parents suffered from the condition you are far more likely to develop it. A DNA test can determine the chances that you will develop diabetes over the course of your life. Type 2 diabetes is non-insulin dependent and is thus, heavily influenced by diet. Some of the moderate but effective steps you can take include:
Carbohydrate counting – this simply involves keeping track of the carbohydrates you take in and distributing them over your daily meals rather than having a high carbohydrate meal (resulting in a “sugar spike”) and then starving your body of sugars for the rest of the day.
Increasing fiber intake – fiber plays an important role in the control of blood sugar (besides its many other benefits)
Diabetics have a higher probability of developing heart diseases- a condition which is even more likely to develop in people who consume many saturated fats (such as those found in butter and cream). Moderating intake of saturated fats will also help control weight, another important contributing factors in the development of diabetes.
Lung Cancer: Do you Smoke?
How often are you exposed to passive smoking? Do you smoke? Do you live in a heavily polluted are? The results of a genetic predisposition test to lung cancer showing you have a 60% chance of developing lung cancer might be an added incentive to kick the habit. Remember that smoking is also linked to heart disease and thus, again a smoker knowing he or she has a high risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease might doubly help them stop smoking.
What other factors contribute to your genetic health?
Whilst diet can be an important factor depending on the disease, the following are also important:
- Family history
- Medical background
- Environment
A few important things to keep in mind
Having a high likelihood of developing an autoimmune disease does not mean you will actually develop it. You can however, do you best to keep it at bay by following certain precautions. These tests are easy to find online, but you should seek the full support and guidance of your doctor before you do the test as well as after. The results of a genetic predisposition test can only be made useful and relevant if framed by a full medical evaluation.
Special thanks to EasyDNA for the great info. I was compensated to run this post.
About Greta
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Genetic testing saved my life. When my sister was battling an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer (which eventually took her life), I was offered genetic testing. I was found to have the genetic mutation related to this type of breast cancer, and immediately began testing. We discovered that I already had cancer. After several surgeries, chemo and other treatments I'm now cancer free. I say knowledge is power when it comes to your health.
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