With the rapid advancement of technology across all industries, it is no surprise that, in the last few decades, there has been an explosion in revolutionary medical testing and equipment. These advances in medical technology have cured many deadly diseases and allowed doctors to prevent and manage others. What you may not have realised is that it has also allowed doctors to know if someone is in danger of getting particular diseases at all. That way, you no longer have to wait for a disease or condition to present itself; you can begin countering it straight away. This process is called genetic screening.
What Is Genetic Screening?
Genetic screening is a process by which a sample of your blood (or saliva) is examined to see if you are at risk for hereditary diseases and medical conditions. If you have ever noticed a trend of your family getting the same diseases over timem then this is most likely due to the genes present in your family line. Diseases and conditions including Parkinson's, macular degeneration, some cancers and even obesity are all detectable through a genetic screening test, and this early warning can save your life by giving you time to work against it.
What Are Genes?
If you want to understand genetic testing, it is important to understand what your genes are. Genes are made up of DNA and can act like a sort of control unit for your body. Genes will determine a lot about you like how tall you will be, what colour your hair and eyes are and more obscure things like your muscle density. Genes are also hereditary, which simply means you inherit them from both your parents. They can also determine bad things such as the aforementioned diseases, which means you can test for specific genes to know if you are more or less likely to have hereditary diseases.
How Do I Get Genetic Testing Done?
Lots of specialists and medical professionals can order a genetic screening if they think it will be beneficial for you. Often this is done when the doctor knows your family has a history of a certain condition, but you can also request one if you feel like you want to know for yourself. Health care clinics often offer them as well, and they are relatively easy to do with just a small withdrawal of blood required before you wait for the results. Remember that sometimes people would prefer not to know what their future will hold for them, so take that into consideration when weighing up whether you want a genetic screening or not.