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Genetic Health Research Paper

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Genetic Health
Have you ever had a reaction to a medicine? Headaches, nausea, drowsiness and irritability are common side effects of both prescription and non-prescription medications. There are many reasons that people react to medications. Age, sex, weight and overall health are a few factors that affect how a drug reacts in your body.

Recent research in genetic science has shown that some people have variations in their genetic make-up that can cause a reaction to a drug. Pharmacogenetics, also known as pharmacogenomics, studies the way that your genetic characteristics affect the assimilation and effectiveness of drugs in your body.

Genetic Health Markers and Adverse Drug Events

Genetic testing identifies changes in the DNA of specific genes to evaluate the genetic health of an individual. Some genetic variants suggest that a person may have an increased risk of developing certain diseases. Other genetic variants may affect the action of particular drugs. Reactions to drugs constitute a serious health problem across the world. Adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Research suggests …show more content…

The most common genes that affect drug metabolism are the cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes, which control the reaction of more than 70 percent of prescribed drugs. If you have variants of CYP genes, you may not get the predicted therapeutic benefit of the drug, or you may experience serious side effects. If the gene variant results in a slower rate of drug metabolism, the drug may build up in your body and cause a toxic reaction. If your genetic make-up causes a faster rate of drug metabolism, the medicine may be inactivated before you get the therapeutic benefit. If you have a genetic variant that is associated with the way a medicine may perform, your doctor can devise a drug treatment plan that includes medicines and doses that are safe and effective for

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