Ask the Doctor: Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease; Preventing Kidney Stones
Q: I’ve seen ads for mail-order test kits that provide genetic testing for cardiovascular disease. Is there any benefit to having this type of testing?
A: Some types of cardiovascular conditions can be inherited, some of which may be due to multiple genes, making genetic testing quite complicated or impossible. Other conditions may be caused by a single gene or very few genes, making genetic testing more feasible. Some examples of cardiac conditions for which genetic testing might be considered are certain of the cardiomyopathies (dis-eases of the heart muscle) and certain heart rhythm disorders. The results of genetic testing may yield useful information not only for the individual’s treatment and prognosis, but also may have implications for that patient’s family members.
Should genetic testing be pursued, however, it should be done under the care and guidance of a physician well versed in the interpretation thereof, and who will be able to provide pre- and post-testing counseling for the patient and his/her family. In addition, each person should think carefully about how he/she might feel about the potential value and limitations of the genetic information learned.
Q: What can I do to prevent kidney stones? I’m a woman in my mid-60s.
A: Kidney stones were once considered a man’s disorder, but rates of kidney stones among women are on the rise. Obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity are linked with a higher risk of kidney stones in women.
Taking action to avoid the pain and discomfort a kidney stone may cause is wise, but another important consideration is how kidney stones might be associated with the health of other organs throughout your body. For example, kidney stones also are associated with a 20 to 50 percent in-creased risk of coronary artery disease.
Choosing a healthy diet can help lower the risk of kidney stones. Limit your intake of meat and other animal proteins, including eggs and fish; these foods contain purines, which break down into uric acid in the urine and may lead to stone formation.
Calcium stones also are very common and occur in two forms: calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The former are more prevalent and form as a result of excess consumption of sodium and animal proteins. Note that calcium from food doesn’t increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones; calcium actually binds to oxalate from food and keeps it from entering the blood and the uri-nary tract. Be sure you’re getting adequate calcium—1,200 milligrams per day—from your diet, and drink enough fluids daily—at least two quarts—to help prevent stones. Sodium also causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium in the urine, which can combine with oxalate and phosphorous to form a stone, so focus on lowering sodium in your diet, as well.
The post Ask the Doctor: Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease; Preventing Kidney Stones appeared first on University Health News.
Powered by WPeMatico
