Family Hypertension

An important aspect that one must look into with respect to personalized medicine is the family health history, which is an invaluable tool reflecting upon a person’s genetic risk factors

As discussed by Dr. Fink, hypertension is a multifactorial phenomenon. The hereditability based on twin studies suggests levels as high as 30-60%, but a familial correlation may also originate from environmental factors or lifestyle habits. Specific genetic polymorphisms that may contribute include mutations in controllers of vascular smooth muscle tone and the regulators of blood volume (Mitchell, 262). It is important to note that the genetic contribution is most often polygenic in nature and not the result of a single gene mutation. This can complicate the overall picture and prevention/treatment

Over the years, the knowledge that genetic, environmental, and social factors interact as risk factors for

When looking at my genogram, I see a strong genetic presence. Hypothyroidism has been diagnosed in my father, my grandmother on my mom’s side, my mother, all three of my mother’s sisters, one female cousin on my mom’s side, and me. This being said, all adult females on my mother’s side are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Each of them were diagnosed in their adulthood, where as I was diagnosed at the age of 5. I believe that the early onset was in association with my Type 1 Diabetes. However, it seems to me that there is a clear genetic disposition running in my family. By analyzing my familial, I have concluded that the younger females in my family are also at high risk of developing hypothyroidism at some point in their

Although a majority of the heritability estimates of the phenotypes examined in the AIR registry appears to be consistent with previously published studies [31], it is possible that heritability estimates may have been inflated since shared environmental influences were not accounted for in our analyses. It also is possible that heritability can be age-dependent, which can be underestimated when existing age dependence is present. The heritability estimates of DBP, FPG, 2hOGTT and prediabetes did not reach statistical significance in our study. Perhaps, DBP may not have reached significance due to the variability that is often observed in diastolic blood pressures within an individual [34]. For this study, every attempt had been made to measure DBP appropriately since we measured DBP twice and calculated the average.

"For the majority of conditions, what you've inherited is a susceptibility to a disease or condition," Dr Barlow-Stewart says. "To happen they need a triggering factor and, although we don't know what all these factors are, there are some like smoking and poor diet that we do

The propensity for specific disease processes are found when analyzing a client’s family tree history. Typically, completing a genogram with at least three generations can show which disease processes show a pattern in a specific family tree. As figure 1 shows, the current generation has a predisposition for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The history complied spans four generations, with three generations on the paternal side, father, grandfather, grandmother, and great-grandfather, contracting heart disease, either suffering from a heart attack, having high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. On the maternal side, there is little information past the second generation. However,

Americans today are faced with a number of health issues, mainly as a result of poor diet, lack of exercise, and lifestyle choices; but, of course, genetics does play a part. My family, for example, has a history of several issues. My father suffers from diabetes and asthma, which my children have as well. My older sister and I both suffer from stress, which is most likely causing our chronic heartburn and my headaches; and, both my husband and I are borderline obese, which is a gateway disease to many others. While some of these issues are linked genetically, many of them are due to lifestyle, which can be viewed as both negative and positive. Negative because we brought these ailments onto ourselves, but positive because we can

To an extent, most diseases are related back to the genetic makeup you are born with. For example, your genes can influence your risk for certain degenerative diseases from osteoporosis to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and diabetes or even something as simple as the common cold (“Direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits”, 2010). Your genetics can also determine how susceptible your body is to infections, allergic reactions, or how your body breaks body nutrients and drugs (Direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits, 2010). Due to scientific and technological advancements, it not now possible to predict your unique risk for certain diseases and how to prevent them through at home genetic testing kits (“Direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits”, 2010).

Whilst lifestyle changes like adopting a healthier diet, frequent physical activity and abstinence from toxic drugs and alcohol, particularly tobacco are considered the most influential and effective prevention of poor cardiovascular health. However, an individual’s awareness of family history and implementation of positive actions towards identifying the many risk factors often minimises the damages which poor cardiovascular health can provoke (J Healey, 2018). An individual’s consciousness, and awareness surrounding their blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels, weight, and anything consumed; like nutrients, medications can ultimately become lifesaving, through understanding the interrelations of theses, and targeting any negative consequences, which would put a greater strain on their body, and thus their heart and overall cardiovascular health (J Healey, 2018). Cardiovascular health was also identified as a primary focus on the National Health and Medical Research Council during 2013, thus significant funding has been granted towards further research on the causes, effects and treatments surrounding these

These inherited genes predispose an individual to inherit certain characteristics as well as illnesses his or her parents or ancestors experienced. Nevertheless, this predisposition does not guarantee that an individual will inherit these medical (e.g. heart disease or diabetes) or mental (e.g. depression or bipolar disorder) illnesses or characteristics (e.g. personality traits or physical feature) (NIMH, 1998). According to the Surgeon General of mental Health (NIMH, 1998), these inherited genes remain dormant until environmental influences such as the loss of a loved one or a job activates the genes related to the predisposed condition. For example, although unknown, evidence points to depressive disorders in the family of this learner. If this were true, when her parents conceived her, she would inherit the genes predisposing and increasing her risk of having depression as well. Nevertheless, the genes lay dormant showing no signs or symptoms of depression until the tragic death of her father. This tragic event activated these genes resulting in the development of chronic depression as well as a bipolar disorder. Therefore, making any children she would have predisposed to develop symptoms of depression as well. (The claim of a genetic blueprint predisposing future generations is evident in the fact three out of four of this learner’s children received a clinical diagnosis of depressive disorders.)

This interest led me to serve as a teaching assistant for an upper-level genetics course and to complete an additional course on human genetics learning about several genetic diseases. Tutoring biochemistry students provided me with a better understanding of how intricate biological systems and processes can be, even when they seem elegantly simple. Additionally, learning physiology and nutrition gave me insight into various energy sources as well as lifestyles and the consequences they present. I am seeking the opportunity to research the different methods of improving human health and longevity while increasing the quality of life. I am particularly interested in the research regarding genetic issues, diet and lifestyle as well as how they affect human health.

An initial step to investigate the existence of a genetic or hereditary component of a disease is the demonstration of familiarity. These studies are used to design an epidemiological case-control. Thus it appears on one hand the frequency or prevalence of the disease in relatives of carriers of the disorder, and on the other hand there is the frequency of that disorder in relatives of healthy individuals,

individual’s life. The disease is a multifactor risk disorder, with genes and family history posing

Hypertension is widely considered to be one of the most important risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (angina, arrhythmia, etc.). It is the second leading disease that causes mortality in the world. Hypertension is the condition when there is an increase in the force of blood on the walls of vessels. It can also be defined as an arterial blood pressure that is raised above 140/90 mm Hg (systolic/ diastolic BP). Hypertension can be classified into Secondary hypertension and Essential hypertension. When specific cause is evident but heredity, and various physiological parameters play a role in increasing blood pressure is known as Essential Hypertension. Secondary Hypertension is one where the cause is known. According to WHO guidelines between 2006 and 2015, deaths due to cardiovascular diseases are expected to increase by 17% while the deaths from infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, maternal and prenatal conditions are projected to decline by 3%. The main causes of hypertension includes the age ,hereditary, gender, extra weight, alcohol consumption, stress life, lazy life etc.