A healthy heart should be a priority for everyone! But where do you start?
These articles will show you where your genetic susceptibility lies, give you ideas of what may work best for prevention, and let you know what could be important to talk to your doctor about.
Members: Check out the Heart Health Topic Summary Report
Clotting & Blood-related Factors
Blood clots can have a strong genetic component, and understanding your genetic risk can help you to be proactive.
Elevated Fibrinogen: Risk factor for blood clots
Fibrinogen is a protein that is essential for creating blood clots when you get a wound. But higher levels of fibrinogen are a major risk factor for heart disease and DVT. Learn how your genes impact your fibrinogen level.
Homocysteine: Genetics, High Homocysteine Levels, and Solutions
High homocysteine levels are strongly linked to an increased relative risk of cardiovascular diseases. Find out how your genes impact homocysteine levels.
Factor V Leiden Gene: Increased Risk of Blood Clots
The factor V Leiden genetic mutation significantly increases the lifetime risk of blood clots. Check your genetic data to see if you carry this mutation – and then learn to recognize the symptoms of blood clots.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1): Regulator of Clotting
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PAI-1) is an important enzyme in the regulation of the breakdown of blood clots and fibrosis. Genetic variants impact the amount of PAI-1.
Nattokinase and Lumbrokinase: Natural supplements for clots
Two natural fibrinolytics to reduce clotting are nattokinase and lumbrokinase. Learn more about these options based upon the newest research and clinical trials.
7 Genetic Variants that Increase your Risk of Blood Clots
Some people are unique in their ability to form clots more easily. This article covers six different genes and the seven genetic variants that increase the risk of blood clots. It is a timely topic because blood clots seem to be a severe complication for people with COVID-19.
Von Willebrand Factor Deficiency: How to Check Your Raw Data
von Willebrand disease is a bleeding disorder in which blood doesn’t clot properly. Discover how genetic mutations cause the von Willebrand factor not to perform as it should.
Genes that Impact Ferritin Levels
Ferritin is the storage protein for iron in the body. Storing too little or too much iron can be an indicator of an underlying problem. Discover the genetic variants that impact ferritin and how to increase ferritin with supplements or foods.
ADAMTS13 and VWF Genetic Variants: blood clots and thrombocytopenia
Genetic Variants involving the ADAMTS13 gene and VWF (von Willebrand Factor) can increase the risk of blood clots and thrombocytopenia.
Blood clots, platelets, and adenoviruses
Take a look into the role of platelets, their connection to blood clots, and a discussion of the research on adenovirus-vector therapy, thrombocytopenia, and platelet reactions.
Asprin, Heart Disease Prevention, and Genetics
While large population studies show the benefits of aspirin, research shows that these heart-health benefits are dependent on your genes. Find out more and check your genetic raw data.
ITGB3: the PIA1/A2 variant and clotting
The PIA2 variant of the ITGB3 gene is linked to an increased risk of blood clots including stroke, heart attack, and DVT. But this variant also comes with a positive trade-off. Learn more with your genetic raw data.
Prothrombin: Blood Clot Risk
Genetic variants in the prothrombin gene increase the risk of blood clots (DVTs). Learn if you carry this risk factor for miscarriage, blood clots, and stroke.
Cholesterol & Lipids
Genetic variants influence your propensity towards higher or lower lipid levels.
Lipoprotein(a): Genetics and Lp(a) Levels
High Lp(a) levels are a big risk factor for sudden heart attacks. Your Lp(a) levels are mainly controlled by your genetic variants. Check to see if you carry genetic variants that increase or decrease Lp(a).
Statins and Brain Fog: Exploring how statins impact memory and cognitive function
Understand the connection between statin use and brain fog. Dive into the research on how cholesterol-lowering drugs impact cognitive health and memory.
CoQ10: Genes, Benefits, and Mitochondrial Energy
CoQ10, or ubiquinone, is an integral part of mitochondrial energy production. It is also used as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Learn how age and genes affect it.
LDL Cholesterol: Genetics, personalized solutions
Your genes combine with your diet to influence your LDL cholesterol level. Learn more about why LDL cholesterol levels may matter in heart disease and find out how your genes are important here.
PCSK9 Gene: Understanding the variants that cause high or low LDL cholesterol
There are several important variants in the PCSK9 gene. Some variants cause lower LDL-cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease by 2-fold. Other variants increase LDL-c and increase the risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides: Genes that cause high triglyceride levels
High triglycerides are linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Both genetics and diet combine to elevate triglyceride levels. Learn how your genes interact with what you eat to lower your triglycerides.
Plant Sterols for Lowering Cholesterol? Depends on Your Genes
Plant sterols are known as a ‘heart-healthy’ way to lower cholesterol. But, it turns out that they may only lower cholesterol only in people with certain genetic variants. Check your genes to see if adding plant sterols is worthwhile for you.
Will statins give you muscle pain?
Statins are one of the most prescribed medications in the world. One side effect of statins is myopathy, or muscle pain and weakness. Your genetic variants are significant in whether you are likely to have side effects from statins.
HDL Levels Can Be Genetic
HDL cholesterol levels are considered to be about half due to genes with the rest due to diet, infection, etc. Learn more about the genetic variants that influence HDL cholesterol and how it affects heart health.
Arrhythmia & Heart Function
Find out how your genetic variants influence both AFib and the overall function of your heart.
BPIFB4 Gene: Linked to Longevity and Heart Health
Discover the impact of the BPIFB4 gene on longevity and immunity, and find out if you have the longevity variant in your genotype report.
Atrial fibrillation: Intersection of genetic susceptibility with inflammation and remodeling
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat in the atrium. Genetic variants combine with inflammation and environmental triggers in causing A-fib.
Coronary Artery Disease: Genetic Susceptibility to Heart Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is heritable. Understanding your genes and a ‘heart healthy’ lifestyle can prevent heart attacks and death.
Niacin and Heart Disease: Genetic Interaction
Higher intake of niacin, along with certain genetic variants, has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. Check your SNPs here.
Sudden Cardiac Death and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Genetic mutations that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
ADRA1A Receptors: Blood Vessel Reactions Under Stress
We have many systems in place to control blood pressure and heart rate. The ADRA1A receptors are part of this system. Discover how variants can influence blood vessel stress response and how others are connected to cognitive changes.
TTR gene: Amyloidosis, Cardiomyopathy, hATTR CM
New research shows that hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) may be more common, especially in people of African ancestry. Understand your genetic risk before irreversible damage.
Spike Protein, Mast Cells, Histamine, and Heart Rhythms
Do you know of someone with unexplained heart palpitations, spiking blood pressure, dizziness, and tinnitus? Discover how research is linking these symptoms to histamine, mast cells, and the spike protein.
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): Genetics, lifestyle, and health span
One cause of many of the diseases of aging is the buildup of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Your genes interact with your diet – and cooking methods – in the build-up of AGEs. Learn whether this is something that is important for you to focus on. (Member’s article)
BMAL1: Core circadian gene with links to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
A core circadian rhythm gene, BMAL1, influences heart disease risk, diabetes, and cancer. Check your genes and learn how to mitigate the risk.
Blood Pressure
The body has multiple ways of controlling blood pressure. Understanding where your genetic susceptibility toward high blood pressure lies can help you pinpoint the right solution to keep hypertension under control.
Salt Sensitivity and High Blood Pressure
Genetic variants significantly influence individual salt sensitivity, with certain genotypes making people more prone to high blood pressure in response to high salt intake
Blood Pressure, MTHFR, and Riboflavin
The common MTHFR C677T variant increases the relative risk of high blood pressure. Learn how to add more Riboflavin (B2) into your diet to reduce risk.
Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3): Heart Health, Blood Pressure, and Healthy Aging
Nitric Oxide Synthase is an important signaling molecule in the endothelium of our blood vessels. It has roles in the regulation of blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, brain health, and more. Genetic variants in nitric oxide genes are important for a healthy heart. Find out how your genes could play a part in the interactions with cardiovascular disease risk and blood pressure.
Hypertension Risk Factor: CYP11B2 Variant
Hypertension risk can be modifiable in terms of diet and exercise however genetics can play a part in risk. Learn more about how the CYP11B2 variant can increase the risk of hypertension.
High Blood Pressure due to AGTR1 Gene Variants
There are several causes of high blood pressure. Genetic variants in the AGTR1 gene are strongly linked with blood pressure and there are specific lifestyle changes that should work to change your blood pressure if you carry the variants.
High-fat diet, high blood pressure, and the ACE gene
Wondering if you should cut down on red meat and fat to lower your blood pressure? According to a new study, it could depend on your genes.