Cardiovascular Health: The Heart and Its Diseases
Hypertension, heart attack, or hypercholesterolemia are conditions that affect the health of our heart and blood vessels and can have serious consequences. To prevent their onset, it is important to engage in activities that improve cardiovascular health, such as exercising, dancing, eating well, or getting enough rest. However, despite leading a very healthy lifestyle, there are certain risk factors that we are often unaware of because they are hidden in our DNA, and which predispose us to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension: Genetics and Blood Pressure
This is the case with hypertension, or high blood pressure—that is, elevated blood pressure within the blood vessels. This situation depends on several factors, such as the stiffness of the blood vessels or the amount of fluid circulating through them. You only need to imagine a hose: the stiffer the hose and the more you open the tap, the greater the pressure inside. The same happens with blood vessels, which are nothing more than sophisticated “hoses” that supply all our cells with nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, if we are genetically predisposed to having greater muscular tone in the arteries or to not eliminating ions such as sodium efficiently—which results in a higher volume of fluid in the blood vessels—we may be at greater risk of developing hypertension. All of this can be identified by reading our genetic information through a DNA test.
Another situation in which the health of blood vessels is compromised is the formation of plaques in the arteries due to the accumulation of cholesterol and other fats that can literally clog the blood vessels. And it is even worse if a person is prone to inflammatory processes, because inflammation further narrows these vessels.
Optimize Your Diet with DNA Testing
This risk can be identified through a DNA test. Our biochemical makeup can indicate whether we are more prone to having high cholesterol levels in the blood or whether we have a stronger-than-average inflammatory response. This can give us insight into the genetic risk of developing clots or plaques, allowing us to precisely adapt our diet by consuming optimal amounts of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, and even B vitamins, which are also involved in the health of our veins and arteries, in order to reduce these risks as much as possible.
Caffeine Sensitivity and Your Heart
When it comes to cardiovascular health, there is one habit that often stands out above the rest: drinking coffee. A good espresso can give you the dose of caffeine you need each morning to face the day. However, although caffeine helps us stay alert and boosts both physical and mental performance, there are people who are especially sensitive to this molecule. In them, caffeine can cause anxiety and even disrupt sleep, which in turn worsens cardiovascular health. We know that there are certain genes related to caffeine metabolism that can make us particularly sensitive to this substance. By knowing whether you are genetically sensitive to caffeine, you can better adjust your consumption to suit your needs.
Personalize Your Lifestyle for a Healthy Heart
That is why it is essential to get to know yourself better at a genetic level in order to adapt your lifestyle habits to your molecular self. Your heart—and ultimately your health and quality of life—will thank you.
