How Genome Sequencing can save your life

Genome Sequencing means a longer, healthier life for you and your loved ones.

Some of us like to think that “what we don’t know won’t hurt us”, but that kind of thinking was birthed in a proverb uttered centuries before advancements like Genome Sequencing became a reality. Now more than ever, knowledge is power. It can mean a longer, healthier life for you and your loved ones. And that’s exactly why we’re offering this life-changing key to all our patients … 

What is Genome Sequencing? 

Let’s start with DNA. You’re probably familiar with the image of two strands winding around each other like a twisted ladder … that’s the physical structure of our DNA. We all have DNA. Now each section of our DNA makes up a gene, and a complete set of genes is a genome. And it’s this genome that is the entire set of building instructions for an entire organism. 

And what makes each of us unique are the small differences in the sequence of our genes. It’s the reason someone’s eyes are brown and another’s green. It’s our genetic profile, and it makes us who we are. Evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins sums it up so well when he says, “DNA neither cares nor knows. DNA just is. And we dance to its music.” 

So the genome is essentially the information center of our bodies, and Genome Sequencing is the breakthrough technology that allows us to read that information. 

Such incredible advances have been made in this technology since the 70s that researcher Michael Schatz, PhD, shares this analogy; “Almost two decades ago, it was like putting together a one thousand piece puzzle where many of the pieces looked the same, such as only blue sky. Now that longer DNA sequences can be mapped, it’s more like assembling a toddler’s puzzle with giant pieces, and ones that show the blue sky, clouds, and mountains.” 

How Genome Sequencing can help your health 

Reading these DNA sequences can give us powerful information. We can learn about our unique genetic predisposition to various diseases … and while a genetic predisposition is by no means inevitable, it is a definite call for preventative action. 

Environmental factors such as lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise can often influence whether or not a genetic disease will actually manifest. The knowledge we get from Genome Sequencing arms us with choices we never had before. Because now we’re the captains of the ship; we can actively steer those actions that can delay the onset of certain illnesses, and sometimes even prevent them entirely. 

Cardiovascular disease, for example, is the number one cause of death globally. But it doesn’t have to be. According to the CDC, an estimated 80% of deaths from premature heart disease and stroke could be prevented. And because certain genetic factors increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, Genome Sequencing can help us better understand our risks of cardiovascular disease. And when we understand our risks, we can activate healthier courses in our life journeys. 

Through Genome Sequencing, we can assess our risks to over fifty diseases and conditions, including various cancers and rare diseases. We can learn about the relationships between food groups and our unique genes, and can even find out about the perfect workout for our bodies based on our genomes. It’s the kind of knowledge that is truly life-changing. 

It means more personalized medicine and preventive care 

Preventative healthcare is at an entirely new level, thanks to Genome Sequencing. Not only does it mean we have early intervention plans at our very fingertips, it means that those treatment plans can be incredibly comprehensive, precise, and personalized. 

Leading the way to this more personalized medicine is Pharmacogenomics. Because some drugs have different effects on different people (including chemotherapeutics, anesthetics, beta-blockers, and antidepressants), Pharmacogenomics brings in the vital study of how our genetic makeups respond to various drugs. 

The data gleaned from these studies can tell us which drugs could cause unwanted side effects, which drugs will give us the best outcome, and at what doses. This tailoring of healthcare to us as individual patients adds yet another power punch to the proactive steps we can take towards living healthier, longer lives, thanks to Genome Sequencing. 

And we’re here for you all the way … 

From the test to the reports, the Genetic Counselling, the tailored treatment plans, and preventative lifestyle measures, our team at English Doctor Barcelona is with you all the way. 

Article reviewed by Dr Steven Joseph, MBBS, MRCGP, MRCPsych Contact English Doctor Barcelona to book your appointment:

Phone / WhatsApp: +34 699 556 326 

Email: info@englishdoctorbarcelona.com

Content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.