Traditional techniques for detecting pathogens include testing blood samples or culture and growing the microbes to identify them. Blood sample testing for antibodies developed in response to infections is also another way of testing. However, genetic testing to identify pathogens is becoming a more popular and more effective method.
Genetic testing For Cardiovascular Diseases
Genetic testing is possible for making a diagnosis, prognosis and for susceptibility testing in cardiovascular medicine. Cardiovascular diseases include cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias. The cardiologist needs to learn about the clinical outcomes and the limitations of genetic testing.
Molecular genetics and human genome sequencing are becoming some of the predictive tools used for managing cardiovascular diseases. A genetic test has a very high accuracy rate, can be done at any stage of life, with or without disease symptoms, and has no invasive sampling.
Most physicians are not familiar with genetic testing as it wasn’t available back then. They are unfamiliar with the intricacies involved in result interpretation. But a physician does not have to know the intimate details of genetic testing to order and interpret a test.
Basic Tenets of Genetic Testing
Genetic testing analyzes deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and chromosomes to identify gene variants that might be medically significant. Most genetic tests rely on detecting the mutation causing diseases or potential disease risk.
Genetic testing includes four applications:
· Diagnostic Testing
A genetic test allows a diagnosis without any tissue sample. It usually suffices for a patient with signs of disease to establish an exact diagnosis.
· Presymptomatic Testing
This test is for people with no signs of disease but is at risk based on their family history. Genetic testing determines if there is a risk but cannot guarantee that the disease will be symptomatic.
· Susceptibility Or Predisposition Test
This refers to multifactorial disorders. It is where multiple genes interact with each other and the environment to cause disease.
· Pharmacogenetic Testing
This testing involves analyzing genes responsible for drug activity and metabolism. It helps match drugs to specific targets, improving efficacy and eliminating or reducing side effects. Pharmacogenetic testing is beneficial when dealing with cardiovascular drug therapy. It allows better drug prescription by enabling doctors to tell which drugs will work best on an individual.
The Framingham Heart Study
Approximately 17.5 million people die annually from cardiovascular diseases or CVDs. The figure represents about 31% of all global deaths. By 2030, this figure may be over 23.6 million. Of the 17.5 million deaths, about 7.4 million are coronary heart disease and 6.7 million from strokes.
Most CVDs are preventable by addressing risk factors like obesity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, and physical inactivity. The Framingham Heart Study established that the conventional risk factors for CVDs were diabetes, cigarette smoking, and high blood pressure.
Thanks to the Framingham study, we now have more information on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and how to improve our quality of life. We also have more information on the reduction of heart diseases. Detection of cardiovascular disease via genetic testing is a massive leap into eliminating CVDs from the population.
Genetic testing is a revolutionary method of making more accurate diagnoses and prognoses on cardiovascular disease. Contact Tesis Lab for more in-depth information and life-changing genetic tests.
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