Gene Health

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way glucose is processed by the body. 27 million people suffer from diabetes in the U.S, with more than 86 million in the pre-diabetes stage. The symptoms of this condition are normally very mild, in fact, 8 million people in the U.S are suspected to have diabetes but they don't know about it. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk of developing diabetes.

The skin gets its colour from the pigment melanin. The immune system of individuals with vitiligo attacks the body’s own melanocytes in some areas of the skin, which is evident as white patches. In a study, it was found that the risk among related individuals was 18 times higher than in the general population. There exists an inverse association between vitiligo and melanoma (skin cancer), with studies suggesting that an increased immune surveillance may exist against melanoma for people who are at high risk for vitiligo.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, constituting 60 to 70% of dementia incidences. Approximately 200,000 Americans younger than 65 years of age have early onset Alzheimer’s disease. People of certain genetic types have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and may exhibit symptoms like difficulty in remembering, confusion, disorientation and speech difficulties.

Heart disease includes coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and heart attack. The different types of heart diseases are identified by a variety of signs and symptoms and only a cardiologist is qualified to diagnose these conditions, definitively. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk for heart disease.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by the inflammation of the rectal and the intestinal mucosa. According to The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are between 37 to 246 new incidences per 100,000 persons every year in the U.S. People of certain genetic types have a higher risk of developing ulcerative colitis.

Anxiety disorders are characterized by feelings of fear and anxiety. This disorder affects more than 40 million people in the U.S every year. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders and may exhibit symptoms like: excessive worry, sweating, hypervigilance, nausea, poor concentration or trembling.

Hypertension is a medical term for a condition that is characterized by a persistently elevated blood pressure in the arteries. The normal blood pressure for adults at rest is between 100–140 millimetres mercury (mmHg) systolic and 60–90 mmHg diastolic. A blood pressure at or over 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure.

Stroke is a medical condition in which blood flow to specific regions of the brain is cut off resulting in cell death. Stroke symptoms can be identified only by a qualified cardiologist. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk for stroke and should watch out for signs that include face drooping, weakness in the arm and speech difficulty.

Age-related macular degeneration is a condition in which there is blurring of sight or loss of central vision. According to the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , there are 1.8 million people with AMD. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk of developing AMD.

Obesity is a condition in which there is excessive body fat, increasing the risk for various metabolic conditions. Obesity is generally measured using the body mass index (BMI), which is obtained by dividing the weight of a person (in Kg) by the square of the person's height in meters. A person with a BMI over 30 kg/m2 is considered obese while a BMI between 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as being overweight.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become fragile and prone to fractures. Currently over 200 million people across the world suffer from osteoporosis, with over 30% of postmenopausal women in the United States and Europe with osteoporosis. People of certain genetic types are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis with symptoms that include back pain, stooped posture or loss of height over time.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a gradual loss of kidney function. According to The National Kidney Foundation, 10% of the global population suffers from chronic kidney disease. People of certain genetic types have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease and may exhibit symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, malaise, weight loss, itching, insufficient urine production.