Genetic testing?

Question and Answer
#21

Well I found your summary of the DNA analysis intriguing - even if a bit over my head in the detail. I TOTALLY agree with the assessment that antibiotics and deafness go together more often than folks may realize.

Granted I was born into a family where my dad’s line had severe sensorineural deafness (each generation getting a tiny bit BETTER hearing if that’s any comfort to us). So with that genetic reality in my body, I wasn’t surprised when I saw my own hearing slide down the scale over the decades. At 14, a week on Coricidin for an ear infection actually gave me permanent 24x7 tinnitus, which luckily only hums along on a single note tune.

I’ve never had the curiosity to check my own lineage, but was talked into a battery of tests by my doc to check my overall health, head-to-foot. Turns out a calcium plaque CT scan shows I have mild heart disease - a total surprise to me as I have a plant-based diet and exercise regularly, with LDL of 88 and triglycerides of 51. Now I’m wondering if I either PIGGED OUT as a younger person or is this also a hereditary pre-disposition?

In any case, I’d rather know I was a VIKING than creeping towards a HEART ATTACK. LOL. :confused:

#22

Geez, I feel for you! We have no control over the genetic “stew” in which we’re brewed. We can only try our best to live a healthy life and eat right. For me, it’s my dad’s side with the severe/profound hearing issues.

Even worse than inheriting THAT, I got his mule-ish temperament and thin hair.

#23

Very interested in this paper.
My hearing loss as due to being administered a life saving Ototoxic drug named Gentamicin as a baby in 1958.
Such resulted a very slow decline in my hearing loss.

Recently at Moores University in Liverpool UK, a Professor of ENT medicine researched and published findings to confirm that this drug caused sensineural hearing loss in children.

But the good news of this century, bsbies needing this drug if they cannot have Penicillin, can have a saliva test to determine if Gentamicin is likely to cause deafness.

In some flu vaccine, Gentamicin is present in it’s ingredient, so I have to check that each year before accepting my annual jab.
It cn still cause deafness in adults too.

Thank you for sharing that paper.

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#24

Veering really off-topic here, but you may find the following of interest:

"Elevated Lp(a) is recognised as an independent genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and aortic stenosis, and at the moment there are no approved drugs to reduce levels of the lipoprotein.

It is estimated that about 50% of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is not driven by LDL-cholesterol – the target of most lipid-lowering drugs, including statins and PCSK9 inhibitors – and that the majority of those cases are associated with Lp(a)."

Lp(a) is genetically determined and stable (you cannot change it). US and EU cardiologists recommend everyone gets tested once in their life. This is all fairly recent data. Thankfully there are several (good) drugs in the late-stage pipeline that lower the blood factor.

Speaking here of personal experience… Hospital couldn’t understand why I had cvd, and discovered my lp(a) levels go through the roof…

#25

Thanks for that! I will add this to my next blood panel. Result will be interesting!!

#26

I got my poor eyesight from my grandmother as well. Gotta love the genetic stew, of all things! Hah!!

#27

Well, I was not told anything about such a simple test. And they did examine a slew of other related genes for liver troubles. But I was probably swindled. Its just another reason now I am glad I have my cheap 23andme results. (you really made my day LOL )
Oh there is speculation that 23nad me may go out of business. I kind of doubt it but… If you want to find out everything about possible genetic problems before they become real problems I would advise getting the tests done at 23andme soon while they are still operating and keeping the results somewhere safe.

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