I have already written more than once that a healthy lifestyle for me is a way to achieve high-quality longevity. Simply put, I want to wander the world as long as possible with my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and do it not with a suitcase of medicines and half-mad, but with a smile, cheerfully and cheerfully.
As soon as such a goal appeared in front of me, through a short research, I realized that the easiest way to achieve it is a healthy lifestyle. An important part of it (in my interpretation) is a deliberate approach to the study of their predispositions and the use of preventive medicine.
What does it mean to “study your predispositions”? This means figuring out which diseases I’m at increased risk of. For this, four years ago, I did a genetic test at the American company 23andme.com, the results of which told me a lot of interesting things. At that moment I regretted that my relatives living in Russia could not do this.
BUT! This spring, I learned about the Atlas company, which, in general, is the Russian analogue of 23andme.com, but in many respects favorably differs from it.
I immediately got to know the Atlas team, and in the next article I will share with you what I learned from them.
But before that, I want to tell in simple and not at all scientific language why it makes sense for almost every person to undergo basic genetic screening.
I will describe a few examples.
- “Infertility”. Nowadays, many couples cannot have children. For years, they undergo examinations, complex therapy – but there is no result. At the same time, doctors shrug their shoulders and say that they see no obstacles to conceiving and bearing a healthy child. In such cases, a possible cause is an atypical form of such a common hereditary disease in Russia as congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex, when the body produces insufficient steroid hormones for the reproductive system. And this problem is easily diagnosed with a test and treated with medication, with the right doses of hormones.
- Fading pregnancy. This is a fairly common problem, there were several such cases among my friends. The fetus develops absolutely normally, and nothing portends trouble, when suddenly at the 27-28th week its development ends. This is due to a genetic predisposition to elevated homocysteine levels, as well as mutations in the genes of the blood coagulation system. As a result, placental microvessels are thrombosed, which leads to intrauterine fetal death. Knowing in advance about such a genetic predisposition, a woman can reduce the risk of pregnancy fading with the help of medication.
- Cirrhosis of the liver. A completely healthy and nondrinking person of middle age is diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, he spends almost six months trying to identify hepatitis and treat it, but without success. According to the results of genetic screening, it turns out that in his body there is a malfunction in the regulation of iron metabolism: it is excessively absorbed in the intestine and is deposited “in reserve” in the liver. If a person knew about this earlier, then a serious illness could have been avoided.
- Reaction to medications. For example, antidepressants. Some patients may experience all of the side effects listed in the leaflet and not get relief for the symptoms they are trying to minimize. And all because their body does not respond to this drug in the right way. Knowing what kind of medication will help you, you can get the desired result quickly and without side effects.
Also, for middle-aged people, the choice of drugs for the prevention of thrombosis (strokes and heart attacks) is very relevant, while not everyone is really helped by treatment. A genetic test allows the doctor to understand which drug from this group will be most effective for the patient. Since preventive therapy with antiplatelet agents (such as aspirin) is designed to last for many years, it is important that the treatment is appropriate. For example, I learned that aspirin does not work properly on me.
These are just a few of the life situations that can be avoided, saving time and keeping you healthy if you take a simple genetic test.
Learn more about genetic screening from Atlas by following this link.
And in a few days I will publish an interview with the CEO and Medical Director of Atlas. They will talk about the history of the company and plans for the future.