For years, genetic data has provided valuable insights into a range of diseases, from cognition and psychiatric disorders, inherited disorders such as Down Syndrome and Tay-Sachs disease, and more.

As such, genetic testing has gained rapid popularity for finding answers to one of the most targeting and focused issues that humans face – disease prevention.

What are Genetics and Genomics?

Genetics can be defined as the study of heredity. In other words, Genetics are traits that are passed down from one generation to another.

Genomics, on the other hand, is a branch of molecular biology that includes the genes and gene products of an individual. Here, genes are analyzed on their behavior with the environment and themselves.

How are Genetic tests done?

Blood samples, skin, hair, or other tissue are used to perform genetic tests. Depending on the suspected disorder, these samples are scrutinized by laboratory experts to detect abnormal chromosomes changes, proteins, or DNA. These tests can identify genetic conditions and an individual’s risk of developing or passing a genetic disorder in the future. There are over 1,000 genetic tests such as molecular genetic tests, chromosomal genetic tests, and biochemical genetic tests.

Is Genetic Data really useful?

In short? Yes.

Genetic data is considered a powerful source to manage and care for people who have common diseases and inherited diseases. Researchers spend a lot of effort to study genetics in order to increase knowledge regarding diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

Genetic nature is defined from the day a baby is born. These genetic contributions remain until death. Therefore, using genetic data can be used to pinpoint diseases in the early stages. As a result, genetic data has become more fruitful than conventional methods such as testing blood pressure or glucose levels.

Impact of Genetic Data towards disease prevention

When someone is given a particular drug treatment, they respond differently from one another. This way the drugs’ potential can be authenticated depending on the person. This genetic variation study is called Pharmacogenomics.

This is the most reliable proof that genomics’ contribution towards creating individualized treatments and developing clinical care. Not only now, but even in the past, genetic data has been proven to impact the accuracy of finding correct medications for people. For instance, the studies between genetic variants and drug responses have managed to discover Warfarin. Warfarin is a powerful anticoagulant medication that has been recognized to prevent stroke and venous thromboembolism. Not to mention, this medication is prescribed worldwide.

Thanks to pharmacogenomics, medicine labeling has been updated with more accurate information as well. For example, Irinotecan, which is used as an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, and variations in the gene UGT1A1 were tested. A dosing reduction label update was suggested according to the data. Genetic data revealed that patients with certain genotypes are prone to the risk of neutropenia (a condition where a person’s white blood cell count is abnormally low). Another example is the genotyping of variants in HLA-B*1502, which can potentially identify patients who are at risk for rare and fatal skin diseases such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

New medical discoveries from Genetic Data

1. Prevention of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

A research team at Baylor College of Medicine has discovered that certain maternal and fetal gene variants are more prone to preeclampsia. Preeclampsia leads to organ dysfunction in mothers and growth complications in babies. This happens because of blood pressure rising up suddenly. If this instantaneous elevation of blood pressure isn’t controlled, disorders such as eclampsia can threaten the life of the patient with fatal seizures. Preeclampsia and Eclampsia are responsible for 10% – 15% maternal deaths.

The causes of Preeclampsia are still unknown and this is among one of the most difficult conditions to predict. However, this particular research conducted by the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Baylor suggests that this genetic signature can potentially support women who are at risk. Moreover, this condition can be prevented by prior preparation.

2. Breast Cancer prevention

Major Genetic study done by involving more than 450 departments and institutions from all over the world has discovered that some women with particular DNA are at a higher risk than others to have breast cancer in the future. According to Dr. Laura Fachal from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the studies that had been conducted in the past revealed that DNA plays a huge role in breast cancer. However, it is important to gather the exact genes that are involved. This new study, on the other hand, was conducted by looking into 110,000 breast cancer patients. After the DNA comparison of these patients, researchers identified 352 risk variants. Although the exact number of targeted genes is unclear, they found 191 genes. The crucial point is, per five genes that are newly discovered, less than one had been previously identified and studied.

According to Dr. Alison Dunning from the University of Cambridge, this new study led the researchers to acquire a more intricate map of what causes and develops breast cancer. This genetic study has opened the doctors and clinicians the path of providing women a clear picture of their level of risk towards breast cancer. Knowing the genetic risk, prevention can be started sooner than before.

3. Preventing blindness

As stated by Koji Nishiguchi, associate professor in the Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, they have managed to develop a new gene therapy to treat blinded mice. Mice that are affected by inherited retinal degeneration were used in the experiment. The results showed a great deal of visual restoration in them. This study has assured this method’s potential for clinical application for humans with similar conditions.

Nishiguchi’s team is planning to have a clinical trial for the new therapy that is being developed to treat humans with retinitis pigmentosa by 2025. Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare condition that causes peripheral vision loss and difficulties to see clearly at night. This particular therapy will target the patients who couldn’t overcome the disease with conventional gene therapy.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, Genetic Data studies have supported disease prevention in the past. Now, with the pre-eminent science and technology, it’s just a matter of time until the researchers develop directive medications for diseases.

We understand that the study of genetics can be an overwhelming topic of undertaking and we’re here to help. Please contact us today for more information.

 

Are you living a healthy lifestyle? And no, we don’t just mean going to the gym twice a week.

A healthy lifestyle is made up of a lot of other factors. A stress-free life, healthy habits, healthy food, a happy living environment – all these factors contribute to your overall well-being in more ways than you know. The absence of fulfillment in even one of these areas can have a negative impact on your life, which can then lead to dissatisfaction, stress, and ultimately a poor quality of overall health.

Are you looking for ways to improve your overall health and well-being? Below are five simple ways in which you can begin immediate integration.

1. Eat Good Food

You are what you eat. It’s true. Our body creates new cells every day using the nutrients it extracts from what we eat. Therefore, everything in your body, from your skin to your internal organs and blood, quite literally, comprises from what you eat. Including whole foods and fresh produce in your diet has the ability to transform your body from the inside out.

Changing your food habits is the first step towards a healthy lifestyle.

2. Perform More Physical Activities

Before technology and automation took over our lives, a lot of our work consisted of standing and moving around. This has drastically changed in the 21^st century when jobs have led to sedentary lifestyles with limited movement. Nevertheless, it is important that we make a conscious effort to move our bodies around more often.

Simple everyday tasks such as playing with a toddler, taking a walk to the nearest bus stop, riding a bicycle to work, or going for an hour-long walk around the garden can add up to significant active hours in your lifestyle. And remember, if you eat good foods, you will receive all the energy required to lead an active lifestyle.

3. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a stress-relieving technique that has come to light in recent times as we allow minutes, hours, days, and weeks to pass right by us in our fast-paced every day lives. Practicing meditation can connects you to your inner self, thereby letting you pause, observe, and keep a calm and stable mind in every situation.

You don’t need any expensive equipment or setting to observe mindfulness; here is a simple mindfulness session you can try:

In a still hour, sit silently in a place where you can observe the world around you. Take in the nuances of your surroundings. While you’re doing this, concentrate on your breathing. Look around. Observe the delicacies of nature around you. Smile. Do this for at least 10-15 minutes every day.

4. Talk to People That Make You Happy

In our hurried daily lives, people have been reduced to acquaintances. We no longer feel like connecting with them. It is time to change this.

Good human interactions have been proven to relieve stress and, in some cases, have also contributed to increased longevity of life. Is there a friend you’ve lost touch with over the years? Why not give them a call this weekend. An old lady in the neighborhood? Why not catch up with her over a cup of hot tea. Maybe even bring her some fresh flowers. How long has it been since your entire family had dinner together? Why not switch-off your phones for a few hours this Sunday and have a hearty laugh reminiscing over stories from the past. And if you’ve got some time to spare, why not visit the nearest care-giving center and be the reason for a smile on a few unknown faces.

All these interactions will not only reduce your stress levels, but they will also spread happiness to someone around you.

5. Cut Off From the Online World

We’ve all heard the clever antidote – “Disconnect to Connect.”

Social media might seem harmless at first. However, too much social media can negatively impact your overall well-being without you even realizing it:

• An Austrian research conducted in 2014 demonstrated that participants who used Facebook for 20 minutes experienced lower mood levels compared to those who just browsed the internet for the same duration. (1)
• A study from “Computers and Human Behavior” found that people who used multiple social media platforms – seven or more experienced greater levels of anxiety compared to people who used none or just two social media platforms. (1)
• A research conducted at the Penn State University in 2016 revealed that looking at other people’s photos lowered one’s self-esteem. (1)

It is imperative that you fully disconnect or at least limit your social media interactions to a few hours per week.

If you remain mindful about the above five tips, you will begin to see a major difference in your overall health and well-being in just a few days. And once you experience a healthy, productive, and proactive lifestyle, you’ll be sure to continue moving forward.

Click here today if you are ready for a lifestyle change for the better!

Statistics Source

1. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns

Aging is a natural part of life that everyone undergoes.

We all experience aging in different ways, primarily determined by our lifestyle. Aging is a process and it takes place throughout our entire life-span.

Our bodies are not spared in the aging process. We may put on a bit of weight or occasionally experience joint pains. These are all signs of normal aging.

We will take you through the most common side effects of normal aging below so you know what to expect. If you are already feeling any of these, rest assured, these signs are normal.

Vision trouble

If you are in your 40s or older, you are probably reading this while wearing glasses. Trouble with vision is a normal aging progression, so fear not. At and around this age, eye-disorders are common. The most common eyesight issue is known as Presbyopia. It occurs when the lens become stiff and neglect to properly adjust to refocus from distance to near vision.

Cataracts come later on. These are commonly described as the clouding of lens as it begins to affect your vision especially in your 60s. increased risk of cataracts is caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight.

You can help to create sight longevity by:

• Scheduling regular checkups and following the doctors advise on using corrective lenses.
• Wearing protective sun glasses while in bright sunlight. The glasses can and should be recommended by an optician.

Hearing Loss

The majority of people above the age of 60 have some kind of hearing problem. Hearing loss is a condition known as Presbycusis. It is caused by loss of sensory receptors in the inner year. You may start hearing sounds muffled or you may be unable to understand high-pitched voices. These are some of the most common symptoms. Men generally tend to experience hearing loss more than women.

Below are ways in which you can improve your ear health:

• Ensure you regularly visit your doctor for check ups.
• Wear corrective devices if you are advised by a doctor to do so.
• Use earplugs when you are around loud noises such as machinery and concerts.

Thin and Fragile Skin

As you age, you skin will start to thin and become less elastic and more fragile. This is because fatty tissue below the skin decreases. You produce less natural oils therefore your skin becomes drier. You develop wrinkles, skin tags and age spots. Don’t stress. There are actions to take in order to mitigate the risks of thin and fragile skin issues.

To promote healthy skin you can:

• Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
• Eat a healthy diet and include more fruits and vegetables.
• Drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated.
• Be gentle on your skin. Shower in warm (not hot) water.
• Use mild soaps and moisturizer.
• Avoid smoking.

Decrease in Strength

As we age, the following changes takes place in our bodies:

• We lose muscle tissue
• The muscles become more rigid and less toned
• Internal organs lose their extra reserve
• The walls of the heart become thicker and heart rate slows
• Arteries become stiffer

These changes affect our overall stamina. We are no longer able to do things we did in our younger years such as vigorous exercising. We may experience fatigue when we carry strenuous activities.

Weight training and stretching works to improve strength and flexibility. Perform light exercises such as walking to help maintain functional strength and increase your stamina. The bones, joints and muscles are the most affected by decrease in strength.

Here are ways you can improve overall strength and functionality:

• Increase calcium intake in your diet. Sources of calcium include: dairy products, salmon, tofu, broccoli and kale.
• Get adequate amounts of vitamin D both in your diet and from sunlight. Dietary sources of vitamin D are: eggs, salmon and tuna.
• Avoid substance abuse such as alcohol and smoking.

High Blood Pressure

Changes that our bodies experience when we age make us vulnerable to some medical conditions; high blood pressure being the most common especially for the 60+ age group. Blood vessels inevitably lose elasticity with age. This stiffness contributes to high blood pressure.

Some factors that may cause high blood pressure include:

• Aging
• Genetic predispositions
• Obesity
• Increased sodium consumption

To maintain healthy blood pressure, you can:

• Watch your waistline and avoid adding extra pounds.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet, and lower sodium intake.
• Reduce undo stress.

Memory Loss

Subtle changes in memory occur naturally as we age. Older people find it harder to multi-task. They also experience difficulty in learning and retaining new information. This is due to general information processing slower as we grow older. The occasional memory lapses such as forgetting where you placed your keys, are normal with age.

Taking these steps now may help improve overall cognitive health:

• Have a physical exercise plan in your daily routine. It will improve your brain function, reduce stress and depression.
• Avoid alcohol which leads to confusion and memory loss.
• Increase your social connections to avoid stress and depression. Depression and stress contributes to memory loss
• Avoid smoking.

We understand aging can be a daunting process to experience. If you have any questions regarding the natural effects of aging, or health issues in general, please reach out to us here today.

Far too often we allow the uncontrollable to inevitably control us. To control our thoughts, our actions, and our reactions. To allow for current circumstances and our surroundings to dictate our emotions is making one of the boldest statements of all. Let me explain.

To sit back and let life wash over you “the way it may” and chalk it up to happenstance so you do not have to choose is ultimately the grandest choice of all. When in fact the only thing we have complete and consistent control over is our thoughts, attitude, and actions. Our cognitive awareness and mental stability play a prominent role in the quality of our lives and functionality of our health in general.

So how does it work? How does one maintain a positive attitude and conscious awareness in the midst of chaos?

By paying attention.

It really is that simple. The human mind can have upwards of 60,000 thoughts per day. That’s a daunting task to try to mitigate and control every single one, so instead, just pay attention to how you’re feeling during the day. The thoughts you are giving attention directly effects your emotions set point. If you’re feeling anxious, scared, or stressed, then the predominance of your thoughts must be negative or worrisome in nature.

The shift can be relatively simple in theory. Instead of a thought about sickness, choose a happy thought about being outside on a picnic with your family. Choose a happy memory or create one completely from scratch in your minds eye. You’ll notice you may even smile. This is the beginning of your emotional shift. You can’t go from sad to happy instantly – that would be inaccurate. But instead slowly progress to more positive thoughts so that the majority are happy in nature.

Be attentive to the information you absorb.

So often we find ourselves glued in front of the television mindlessly soaking in all the devastating news seemingly encompassing the world. This will absolutely have an impact on your mental state and cognitive awareness.

If you are constantly looking at, engaging in, and expecting negative events, then rest assured, you will absolutely witness more negative interactions on a comprehensive scale.

The power of positivity is very much a real thing. This does not mean to bury your head in the sand and ignore all the bad things that do in fact occur on a daily basis. No, but instead notice them enough to be informed and then choose to believe that hate and cruelty are out of your control. Stressing about these things are counter-intuitive and pointless. Focus on only what you have control over. Your mind, your health, the food you choose to fuel your body with, your family’s well being, and hard work.

Gentle shifts encouraging minor increases in your daily output and productivity can heed wonders of progressive adaptation one year from now.

How do you choose to live?

We discuss this periodically here at Proactive Wellness Centers – how making a choice to live healthy and truly engaged are vital to the longevity and quality of your life and even those around you. Do you make the conscious choice to move your body daily at least 30 minutes a day? Do you choose to take the time to cook your food at home instead of swinging through the drive thru on your way home from work?

Convenience is hardly ever synonymous with accuracy.

Set goals, make plans, and track your results. When your body is healthy, your mind can be. Or when you begin with your mind, you’ll also begin to make the necessary adjustments to have your body line up with your new mental clarity. You cannot have a sick mind and a healthy body, just like you can’t have a sick body and a healthy mind. We are meant to be in sync with ourselves both mentally and physically.

Obviously, there are unwarranted health circumstances that can negatively impact your overall morale and general wellbeing. The result remains – how with that affect your emotional intelligence, your cognitive awareness, and ultimately your attitude and response to your current circumstances.

Remember, your attitude is the only thing you have complete control over.

The only way to control your world, is to control your mind. Try shifting some of your thoughts today to a more intentional and positive scenario. Just start with one and add on from there. Remember, slow and steady allows for you to maintain motivation and focus without burning out or losing interest in where your intentions were previously set.

If you would like to discuss some mental clarity and overall health techniques, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. We look forward to speaking with you.