Heart problems can be extremely deadly. And the number of risk factors for heart issues is huge.
Some of the most common factors include:
- High blood pressure – can damage the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- High cholesterol – can build up in the arteries and increase the risk of heart issues.
- Obesity – a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of heart disease, as regular exercise can help to improve heart health.
- Stress – chronic stress can contribute to the development of heart disease, as it can increase blood pressure and trigger inflammation.
Genetics play a huge role in the health issues listed above.
For example, I have a higher risk for atherosclerosis, which is responsible for 50% of deaths in the western world.
What that means is that some of the actions that increase artery hardening, like eating a diet that includes a lot of processed foods, affect me more than someone that has a less likely genetic predisposition.
So how common are heart problems in the USA?
Well, in the time it took you to begin reading this email until the completion of this sentence, one person has experienced a heart attack.
Someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
The silver lining here is that a third of deaths related to heart disease could be prevented!
With heart disease being impacted by so many variables, it’s no surprise that your genes can have a significant impact, and so the best approach for preventative health is to understand your unique DNA and take a personalized approach.
Here are a few genes that you can look at to help you get there.
AGT Gene & Blood Pressure
The AGT gene plays a key role in regulating blood pressure by activating a hormone called angiotensin II, which causes the blood vessels to constrict and increases blood pressure.
The negative variant of this gene increases angiotensinogen production and as a result can make you more prone to high blood pressure.
Luckily, there’s one tip that you can implement that regulates blood pressure the same way a functioning AGT gene would. If you have the negative variants (which you can check for here!), a hibiscus supplement can help improve your heart health.
PON1 Gene & Inflammation
The PON1 gene helps protect our blood vessels and heart from damage by breaking down harmful substances in our body that can cause inflammation and plaque buildup in our arteries.
If the PON1 gene is not working properly, it can increase our risk of developing heart disease.
If you carry the negative variant, there is one spice that you can add to your diet that can improve your PON1 function!
LRP6 Gene & Atherosclerosis
The LRP6 gene provides instructions for producing a protein that helps regulate the metabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol.
The LRP6 protein helps to clear LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream by binding to and removing it from circulation.
Mutations in the LRP6 gene can lead to the buildup of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, which can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of heart disease.
Discover what variant you have and, if you carry the negative variant, there are personalized recommendations that you can find in the Cardiovascular Health Summary Report!
How The Cardiovascular Health Summary Report Uses These Genes
These are 3 important genes that can impact the way your body deals with potential heart issues.
But there are thousands of other genes that also have an impact on your heart health and, when combined together, make a huge difference on your genetic risk scores.
Our Cardiovascular Health Summary Report analyzes thousands of genetic variants to give you your predisposition for heart topics like artery hardening, palpitations, TMAO, blood pressure, and so much more.
If you sign up to SelfDecode today, you’ll receive the Cardiovascular Health Summary Report, plus:
- 17+ Summary Reports – Similar to the Cardiovascular Health Report, these look at all of our health reports that fit under one health topic, combine it into one easy-to-read report, and give you life-changing insights and recommendations.
- 300+ Health & Trait Reports
- Unlimited access to Lab analyzer tool – upload your labs and track your results
- Access to Personalized Genetics Blog – over 600 blogs that change based on your DNA
- Personalized supplement formula – instantly created based on your unique genes
- SNP & Gene Explorer
- Lifestyle Analyzer
- NEW! Ancestry – discover where you’re from and track your maternal lineage (Only available on Health & Ancestry Plan)
