Introduction
Inflammation is essential to life. Responsible for the redness, heat, swelling and pain around an infected cut, for example, the inflammatory response defends the body against infection and helps coordinate the repair of damaged tissues and organs. Unfortunately, the inflammatory response is not always a force for good; there is now a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests it may be an important component of a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
Interleukin as a Key Regulator of Inflammation
The Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family of cytokines plays a key role in coordinating and regulating inflammation. The IL-1 gene is one of the first to be activated in an inflammatory response; IL-1 activates a wide number of the pro-inflammatory cells, proteins and other molecules, and is responsible for activating other cytokines and chemical messengers that maintain the inflammatory response.
Importantly, subtle differences in the IL-1 gene exist in the general population that can have a significant effect on how powerfully our inflammatory system responds. Now, with the Gensona Heart Health test it is possible to tell if your IL-1 genotype may increase your risk for heart disease.
Introducing the Gensona Heart Health Test
The Heart Health Genetic Test tells a person if they carry a genetic make-up that can make their inflammatory system over-active and put them at higher risk of early heart disease.
* Taking the test is simple, and uses cells rubbed painlessly from the inside of your cheek. These are then sent to a laboratory for testing.
* While the test does not diagnose heart disease, it can tell you if you have an IL-1 genetic pattern linked to higher risk. These are called Risk Patterns 1a, 1b, or 1c.
Testing "positive" for one of these three Risk Patterns means you may have a higher risk for heart disease.
The Link Between IL-1 Genetic Risk Patterns and Risk for Heart Disease
There is considerable evidence that people who test positive for one of the IL-1 Risk Patterns have a high risk for heart disease. For example:
* By looking at families whose members had heart attacks at an early age, scientists were able to determine which parts of the human genome contributed to the higher risk in these cases. One of the strongest genetic contributions to early heart attacks was from the region of the genome where IL-1 genes are found.
* People who had a heart attack or a stroke at a young age were more likely to test positive for one of the IL-1 Risk Patterns than healthy individuals of the same age and sex.
* People who tested positive for one of the three Risk Patterns were more likely to have a heart attack.
* C-reactive protein levels tended to be higher overall in people who tested positive for the IL-1 Risk Pattern.
* C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for active inflammation and people with raised CRP levels have high risk of heart disease.
* In people who were undergoing coronary angiography, those who tested positive for one of the IL-1 Risk Patterns were found to have double the CRP levels compared with those who tested negative.
How Genetic Risk Assessment Can Help Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
Overall heart disease risk depends on a number of different factors; some environmental, some genetic. Although your genetic make-up cannot be changed, being aware of your genetic risk can be a powerful, motivating tool for lowering your chances of heart disease.
For those who test positive for IL-1 Risk Patterns, it is important to:
* Manage conventional risk factors (eg, adopting a healthy diet, controlling weight, not smoking, being physically active, and maintaining cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels within normal limits).
* Understand that some biomarkers, for example oxidized LDL cholesterol, may be important predictors of heart disease risk for you, but not for people who test negative for the IL-1 Risk Patterns.
* Adapt your diet to include foods that may lower an overactive inflammatory response.
* Certain foods, such as apples and vegetables, are linked to a lowering of CRP levels.
* A botanical product (composed of rose hips, a blueberry and blackberry mixture and a grapevine extract) taken for 12 weeks lowered CRP levels further in people who tested positive for one of the IL-1 Risk Patterns compared with those who tested negative.
Conclusion
Inflammation, a process essential for life, is also a critical component of a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease. Some people possess subtle differences in the genes for IL-1 which means they have a more active inflammatory response than people with a different genetic make-up. These IL-1 genetic risk patterns are also associated with an increased risk for heart disease.
The Gensona Heart Health test detects if you possess one of the IL-1 genetic risk patterns. Knowing this can help you manage your heart health and take the necessary steps to reduce your risk for heart disease.
Details of Studies - http://www.ilgenetics.com/content/products-services/gensona/heart-health/scientific-summary/details-studies.jsp
References - http://www.ilgenetics.com/content/products-services/gensona/heart-health/scientific-summary/references.jsp
My next article entitled "What is the Gensona General Nutrition Test?" will offer the specifics of what is involved in the genetic testing.
About the Author
Kevin McNabb is the Founder & Chairman of Kevin McNabb International (http://kevinmcnabb.com/blog), a company dedicated for producing high quality personal development resources for the direct selling industry (includes MLM, network marketing and Party Plan).
For more information regarding this article, please visit: http://kevinmcnabb.com/blog/category/health/
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