Personalised healthcare is here
As a wellness expert, specialising in diet and exercise, I’ve always seen the value in treating people as individuals and tailoring their wellness programmes to suit their specific goals and body types.
No one diet fits all, and the same applies to exercise. Some people see better results with endurance-type training and a high protein diet, while others lose weight and get fitter faster with short, high-intensity workouts and more carbohydrates.
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With this in mind, it’s always surprised me that when you visit the GP for a particular ailment, you’re given the same generic medication as everyone else. But, what if you don’t react well to the medication? The truth is, everyone’s genetic makeup is so different and no doctor can know for sure, just by looking at you, how you’ll react to a certain treatment protocol.
For instance, I can’t take certain antibiotics because they make me feel so nauseous and give me terrible stomach pain. This is why I was so excited to discover DNAlysis’s latest offering- the mygeneRx test. Not just for me, but for my daughter Bella too.
What is the mygeneRx test?
Firstly, I’m a huge fan of DNAlysis Biotechnology because the healthcare company believes in providing patients personalised health assessments through simple, non-invasive genetic testing. This type of testing gives patients more insight into a wealth of key health areas, including weight management and chronic disease risk management, to understanding athletic performance and recovery requirements from high-intensity exercise, it’s fabulous!
Their new test, the mygeneRX test, analyses how the body deals with, and metabolises certain medications. Also, known as pharmacogenomics, this process helps to highlight what works best for you as well as your loved ones when dealing with issues such as pain, stomach ailments and infectious diseases or mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
ALSO SEE: How Your DNA Can Tell You About Your Mental Health
The reason why this type of testing is so necessary is because even the smallest genetic variations, which occur from person to person, can have a serious impact on how that person responds to a medication. It’s much the same with children. This is why some kids respond well to certain pain medications for issues such as teething, while others don’t react well at all.
And given all the health concerns around the dangers of chemical ingredients such as codeine for children, which is commonly found in some over-the-counter pain and cough medicines, I was keen to see if Bella’s specific genotypes in her body would allow for her to tolerate these types of medications now, and in the future.
How does the test work?
Luckily, the mygeneRx test is easy and doesn’t require you having to give your child any medication whatsoever. It’s so non-invasive, it made Bella giggle. It’s as simple as taking a cheek swab and sending that to the lab for analysis. The results were then sent back to our medical GP who helped us understand the report.
What does it show?
The report was easy to understand and informative. In our case, it showed us which types of medicines could potentially be harmful for Bella to take and which might cause adverse side effects, especially when combined with other medications. Armed with this type of information about Bella’s unique genetic makeup, I now know how to treat her with the right medication, at the right dose and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved!
For more information on the mygeneRx test, as well as DNAlysis, visit www.mygenerx.co.za or www.dnalysis.co.za. You can also call 011 268 0268 to book a test or ask a question.
