Why Genetics?
Our genes contain the instructions our bodies needs to develop and function, and each one has a specific job to do in our bodies. We have two copies of most genes: one from our mother and one from our father. With genetic testing, we are able to determine if both copies of the gene are working as expected, or if one or both copies are not functioning correctly (also known as a gene mutation). Depending on which gene is involved, a gene mutation can lead to increased risk to develop certain diseases, including cancer, heart conditions, and others.
Genetic testing can reveal information about your health and risk for certain diseases, and can also provide information for family members, who have up to a 50% chance of carrying the same gene mutation.
Genetic testing may be able to:
Explain why you have a health condition, or why a health condition runs in your family
Determine if any changes should be made to your healthcare to prevent or better treat a disease
Give you and your family members information on your risk to develop certain health conditions
Identify if you and your partner are at risk to have a child with a serious genetic condition
Genetics is complicated.
With HealthyGene it doesn't have to be.
Genetic testing can give you invaluable information about your health and risk for disease. But trying to understand the results by yourself can feel like trying to understand a foreign language. A HealthyGene genetic counselor can translate what your results mean for you and your family members, and can help you integrate the results into your healthcare.
Before genetic testing, your HealthyGene genetic counselor will take a full family history to determine what genetic testing is right for you. They will help you understand the possible information you could get from genetic testing and how it could impact your healthcare and privacy. Once your results are available, your genetic counselor will interpret what they mean for you and your family members and provide you with a clinical action plan, giving you the confidence to integrate this information into your healthcare. Click here to learn more about genetic counseling.
When should you consider genetic counseling and testing?
Anyone who has concerns about their personal or family health history may benefit from a personal risk assessment. Below are some of the most common reasons to seek genetic counseling and testing, however this is not a complete list.
Reproductive Health
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Planning a pregnancy
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Currently pregnant
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Have had 2 or more unexplained miscarriages
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Family history of a birth defect, intellectual disability, or other genetic condition
Cancer
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Personal or family history of:
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Cancers diagnosed under age 50
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Multiple people with the same type of cancer or with related cancers
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One individual diagnosed with multiple cancers
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Rare cancers
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Cardiology
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Unexplained high cholesterol
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
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Dilated cardiomyopathy
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Aortic aneurysms/dissections
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Abnormal heart rhythms
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Heart defects
Neurology
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Unexplained epilepsy (seizures)
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Intellectual disability
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Autism spectrum disorder
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Developmental delays
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Neuromuscular disorders
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Neuropathy
Other Health Conditions
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Connective tissue disorders
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Eye disorders (ophthalmology)
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Hearing loss
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Metabolic disorders
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Others
Known Gene Mutation in Family
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If a relative has had genetic testing and a gene mutation was identified, you have up to a 50% chance to have the same gene mutation
Proactive Health
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Individuals who do not know their family history
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Individuals without a strong family history of a disease