![]() It was nearly unheard of only a few decades ago. In recent years, there's been a dramatic increase in genetic testing. Earlier treatments intended to reduce the risk of complications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, are available if a child or adult is known to have a mutation linked to FH. Children who have a double dose of a gene variant linked to this condition may die of cardiovascular disease before age 20. Among adults who have the most common genetic variants that cause it, heart attack or sudden cardiac death may occur in middle age. FH affects about one in 300 adults, which means it isn't rare. This greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. But how might that help you from a health standpoint? And how do such tests differ from the genetic testing a doctor may recommend?Ĭonsider the example of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a condition in which multiple variants of several different genes lead to markedly high cholesterol. Several companies offer you the opportunity to look at your genes. ![]() ![]() More often, multiple genes are involved in disease development, and they act in concert with nongenetic factors, such as diet or exercise, to affect disease risk. A single gene mutation can cause some conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. ![]() When it comes to health and disease - and, of course, many other aspects of life - one thing is certain: genes matter. ![]()
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