Genetics and Health

[Valerie]

My husband & I both took same test by way of a medical device that prints out a graph & reveals some things regarding heart & arteries.

Results were interesting.

Neils test said he had heart of a 35 yr old ,(he is 66)

Mine, on the other hand, raised concerns. Mine revealed my heart/arteries were like a 70 yr old! I'm 66.

I thought how can this be? We eat the same things. He had type 1 diabetes 28 years (until his pancreas & kidney transplant stopped the diabetes 17 years ago.

Genetics. They said plays a large part. Made total sense. Every person on my side of the family ,(mom's side) died of heart attacks by 80 yrs old. Or had quadruple bypass etc. My Mom however is the exception. She is about 87 & has taken Coq10 & krill oil long time. Her doctor says her heart is real healthy still!

Neils family- his mother passed the day before her 101 birthday, had no heart issues. Her mother died at almost 107, had no heart issues.

Interesting to me, that quick test seemed to convey what our family histories are. I'm pretty active but they showed me how much plaque my arteries would have presently. Yikes!

Moms strongly encouraged me to take those supplements which I have not been diligent to do- ( I focused on immune system supplements,).

Good news for Me eil though! He's had his share of problems from former diabetes. That supposedly affects your heart but wow- at 66 to hear yours is like a 35 yr old! Thanks for the genes mom!

[Soloist]

I would be skeptical of any device doing this without a blood sample.

[steve-in-kville]

I would be skeptical of any device doing this without a blood sample.

Bloodwork can tell a lot, but even then I don't dwell on numbers.

[Soloist]

I would be skeptical of any device doing this without a blood sample.

Bloodwork can tell a lot, but even then I don't dwell on numbers.

Dr “your A1C says you have diabetes”

Patient “it’s just a number, I feel fine eating these cookies”

[Valerie]

I would be skeptical of any device doing this without a blood sample.

For your heart, I think EKGs don't require blood-

[Soloist]

I would be skeptical of any device doing this without a blood sample.

For your heart, I think EKGs don't require blood-

Any cardiologist who only checks with only an EKG isn’t a good cardiologist.

[Ken]

Yes, genetics has a great deal to do with cholesterol and artery blockage.

My wife and I basically have the same diet and I actually exercise more than my wife. But I am on statins for high cholesterol and she is not. And I have had open heart surgery for a valve replacement caused by a congenital valve defect that was genetic.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is the fancy name for the inherited condition that results in higher than normal levels of LDL blood cholesterol. It causes up to 10 per cent of early onset coronary artery disease and the cause is genetic (an inherited gene mutation).

But yes, while EKGs can help diagnose heart conditions and artery blockage, you will obviously want good blood work and blood monitoring to inform the best treatments and monitor their effectiveness.

Luckily the science of heart disease is very advanced and we have effective treatments, especially compared to many other diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. The problem with heart disease is that medicine alone is insufficient. It requires diet and lifestyle changes which can be very difficult for many.

[Valerie]

Yes, genetics has a great deal to do with cholesterol and artery blockage.

My wife and I basically have the same diet and I actually exercise more than my wife. But I am on statins for high cholesterol and she is not. And I have had open heart surgery for a valve replacement caused by a congenital valve defect that was genetic.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is the fancy name for the inherited condition that results in higher than normal levels of LDL blood cholesterol. It causes up to 10 per cent of early onset coronary artery disease and the cause is genetic (an inherited gene mutation).

But yes, while EKGs can help diagnose heart conditions and artery blockage, you will obviously want good blood work and blood monitoring to inform the best treatments and monitor their effectiveness.

Luckily the science of heart disease is very advanced and we have effective treatments, especially compared to many other diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. The problem with heart disease is that medicine alone is insufficient. It requires diet and lifestyle changes which can be very difficult for many.

Thank you Ken, sorry you had to go through the surgery so young - they gave us a list of recommended books to help - it is amazing my Mom doesn't have the family problems she truly attributes it to taking her supplements for so long- AND not cooking like her southern heritage. I haven't known her to exercise since she was in her 20s.

[MaxPC]

Adding you to our prayers, Valerie. Hopefully your medical professionals can provide a sound course for improvement.

[temporal1]

My late husband was robust, vigorous, a big guy with a hearty appetite.
He ate French Fries everyday, sometimes more than once daily, fried food was his favorite.

His cholestrol, etc.: IDEAL (the official lab reports)

Fried food didn’t get him. He had a rare form of ALZ that hits young, sometimes in 20-40’s.
He was diagnosed at about 50.

i avoided fried food, tried to exercise, eat healthy: my numbers, always bad.
[Crestor] helps!

i’m not the fine specimen he was. but, i keep chugging along.