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The sense and nonsense of direct-to-consumer genetic testing for cardiovascular disease. Neth Heart J. 2011 Feb;19(2):85-88 Authors: Janssens AC, Wilde AA, van Langen IM Expectations are high that increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease will eventually lead to personalised medicine-to preventive and therapeutic interventions that are targeted to at-risk individuals on the basis of their genetic profiles. Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by a complex interplay of many genetic variants interacting with many non-genetic risk factors such as diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption. Since several years, genetic susceptibility testing for cardiovascular diseases is being offered via the internet directly to consumers. We discuss five reasons why these tests are not useful, namely: (1) the predictive ability is still limited; (2) the risk models used by the companies are based on assumptions that have not been verified; (3) the predicted risks keep changing when new variants are discovered and added to the test; (4) the tests do not consider non-genetic factors in the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk; and (5) the test results will not change recommendations of preventive interventions. Predictive genetic testing for multifactorial forms of cardiovascular disease clearly lacks benefits for the public. Prevention of disease should therefore remain focused on family history and on non-genetic risk factors as diet and physical activity that can have the strongest impact on disease risk, regardless of genetic susceptibility. PMID: 21461037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

How to protect your heart!

Annually, cardiovascular diseases kill about 17 million people. According to specialists, healthy diet, avoid sedentary lifestyle and smoking cessation can reduce by 80% the number of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. According to data provided by WHO, in our country, cardiovascular mortality rate is 61% of total deaths compared with 37% EU average

Check your blood pressure at least once a year! – Cardiovascular disease is ranked as the cause of death in Europe, both in women and men, according to the European Charter of cardiovascular health. Incidence and consequences of cardiovascular disease can be reduced through early diagnosis, proper management of the disease, recovery and prevention, including advice on lifestyle organization

The main risk factors are hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol. At least 20% of hypertensive patients who present to a medical not know they have hypertension, their blood pressure is even in higher values. For this reason, blood pressure check is required at least once a year, even in the absence of disease manifestations.

Attention to diet! – Lifestyle is a word with many implications: nutrition, smoking, mode of activity (stress), rest periods, exercise, psychological aspects.

It is known that excess pounds are a risk factor for many diseases, and this rule applies in the case of cardiovascular diseases. Above the normal weight is an important risk factor for heart, blood pressure rises, as happens with triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL) decreases. Clinical studies show that each kilo lost is important, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke attack.

As for diet, Dr. Andrew warns that food is medicine, do not cure but works on long term with a prophylactic effect. It indicated to reduce salt consumption, consumption of animal fats and fiber, fruits and vegetables. It is very important to exercise, at least 30 minutes a day.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors

The more a person shows several factors, the greater the chances of developing heart disease. The best way to prevent heart attacks is represented by reducing risk factors. Risk that can be controlled and treated:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) disrupts the smooth functioning of the heart, amplifying the state of weakness. Both heart and arteries are prone to strokes. High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, of atherosclerosis, causing congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, kidney failure and eye disease. When this pressure is associated with obesity, smoking, cholesterol increases the risk of sudden attack. High blood pressure tends to increase with the age. Men are exposed to greater risks than women. After the age of 55 years men shows similar trends for accelerating blood pressure. Instead, after 75 years, women are more prone to such risks than men. HTA’s are not usually defined by symptoms, is a real silent killer. If you are suspected of hypertension, should pay more attention to your health. Keeping a proper diet, losing weight (when applicable), practicing a sport regularly, avoid salt and following a strict medication from a medical specialist, you can keep blood pressure under control (ie lower blood pressure to normal levels), decreasing the worsening condition health;

• Hypercholesterolemia (high levels of blood cholesterol) – coronary heart disease risk increases as you achieve a high cholesterol. When present and other risk factors such as hypertension and smoking, exposure from cardiovascular disease is even greater. Cholesterol is found only in animal fats. Some herbal oil, often used in cooking, are high in saturated fats. Transfats results by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils are often used in restaurants and fast foods. Fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol, are therefore recommended in any diet. If you need medicines to lower cholesterol is better to resort to a healthy diet reduce the amount of cholesterol and improve your cardiovascular health;