Predict Your Heart Disease Future
A gene variant that raises the risk of heart disease 55 percent can be identified with a new test that may help doctors determine who should take cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor, scientists say.
A mutated form of the gene, known as KIF6, is linked with a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease, according to three studies to be published Jan. 29in the Journal of American College of Cardiology. The disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Identifying a gene that predisposes a person to coronary heart disease may yield another screening option besides cholesterol and blood pressure levels, to help doctors prescribe preventative treatments. The test for identifying the disease is a DNA test that will provide your KIF6 status. Knowing the result of the test will help you know if you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs along with living a heart healthy lifestyle. The test will be done with other traditional risk-factor assessments such as cholesterol and blood pressure.
About 1.2 million America s will have a coronary heart attack this year, according to the American Heart Association’s Web site. More than 60 percent of the population may carry KIF6, based on the combined research on about 30,000 people.
The test is pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Regardless of the availability of the test and your results, it is important to practice a heart healthy lifestyle. This includes physical activity, limiting high fat foods, and increasing fruits/vegetables in the diet. These changes can be made easily. For example, you can take the stairs rather than an elevator, using a non-stick spray when cooking, and having fruits/vegetables as an afternoon snack, retrospectively. For more information on a heart healthy lifestyle visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/lifestyles/lifestyles.html
To access the three articles featured in this blog, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2tn2kv
A mutated form of the gene, known as KIF6, is linked with a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease, according to three studies to be published Jan. 29in the Journal of American College of Cardiology. The disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Identifying a gene that predisposes a person to coronary heart disease may yield another screening option besides cholesterol and blood pressure levels, to help doctors prescribe preventative treatments. The test for identifying the disease is a DNA test that will provide your KIF6 status. Knowing the result of the test will help you know if you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs along with living a heart healthy lifestyle. The test will be done with other traditional risk-factor assessments such as cholesterol and blood pressure.
About 1.2 million America s will have a coronary heart attack this year, according to the American Heart Association’s Web site. More than 60 percent of the population may carry KIF6, based on the combined research on about 30,000 people.
The test is pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Regardless of the availability of the test and your results, it is important to practice a heart healthy lifestyle. This includes physical activity, limiting high fat foods, and increasing fruits/vegetables in the diet. These changes can be made easily. For example, you can take the stairs rather than an elevator, using a non-stick spray when cooking, and having fruits/vegetables as an afternoon snack, retrospectively. For more information on a heart healthy lifestyle visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/lifestyles/lifestyles.html
To access the three articles featured in this blog, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2tn2kv
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
7:54 AM
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