Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
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Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
Upon being informed that he or she may be at risk for certain diseases in the future as a result of genetic risk testing, a change in behavior, such as altering one's eating habits, participating in fitness programs or altering one's general lifestyle, may become a reality for some. It is possible to identify whether or not a person is at risk for certain diseases in the future by undergoing genetic risk testing. According to Leighton et al (2012), it is probable that members of the general public would misinterpret DTC findings if they do not give adequate assistance and information. However, Lemke et al (2013) states that little is known about the perspectives of a diverse range of patients and service providers on the dangers and advantages of disclosing accidental discoveries from genome sequencing in the clinical context in order to improve patient care.
Anderson et al (2015) observed that when people who have had genetic testing are informed that they are at risk of acquiring chronic disease in the future, they are considerably more inclined to make changes in their lifestyle choices. In this study, it was determined that the vast majority of people who were tested became worried and afraid after hearing the findings, and that the vast majority of those who did not modify their health habits finally did so as a result of this study. This process moved from shifts in attitude and viewpoint toward a healthy lifestyle, where the majority of them acknowledged that they had been living unhealthy lives and that they needed to make a change, to more specific changes in behavior and perspective toward healthy living. Diet was the most often modified aspect of the behaviors covered in the study, with physical activity coming in second place, according to the results. Concerning diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the vast majority of those who were projected to develop these conditions were those who were honest about their willingness to make the behavioral modifications that were recommended.
A number of participants also took the decision to leave up hazardous vices in their life after getting the results of their DNA testing, which was a positive development. Extraordinary consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of illicit drugs were the second most often reported risk factors, with smoking ranking first as the most prevalent factor. Participants addressed these modifiable risk factors in a variety of ways, including enrolling in smoking cessation programs, enrolling in drug rehabilitation programs, and joining Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for those who were suffering from alcoholism, among other measures. Most of the participants were motivated to change their ways of thinking about their health as a result of the outcomes of the tests. As a consequence of this program, their hazardous lifestyle choices were altered, and they were encouraged to embrace good health practices.
My ability to participate in healthy lifestyle choices would be impaired if I had a false feeling of security, and this would have bad repercussions for me. It is possible that not knowing what your genuine health status is and what health risks you are exposed to might give you a false sense of security when it comes to your welfare when it comes to health. Some would simply declare, "Ignorance is bliss." Others might disagree. Others, though, might disagree. Despite this false sense of security, the fact is that it will slowly eat away at us without our even recognizing it. It will stifle our desire and determination to achieve a more visually beautiful and physically fit physical appearance. This false sense of security will only encourage us to not actively seek a healthy lifestyle; it will persuade us that it is OK not to eat healthfully and not to engage in physical activity. The consequences of this erroneous assumption would be a certain amount of failure in our efforts to live a healthy life, and eventually the development of all of the ailments that we were never completely able to embrace and grasp from the very beginning of our trip.
In conclusion, adopting a fatalistic attitude would leave one feeling hopeless and helpless in one's situation. When we believe that there is nothing, we can do to prevent an illness, we begin to look for reasons to avoid doing things the healthy way; we develop a "loser mindset" and an attitude that is easily discouraged and demoralized; we develop a "loser mindset" and an attitude that is easily discouraged and demoralized. Our failure to create healthy eating habits and lead a healthy lifestyle in our lives would be the result of this technique at some time in the future. Since of this, we must avoid taking this method because it will only lead us wrong, killing our dreams as well as our health, although in slow motion.
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References
Anderson, J. A., Hayeems, R. Z., Shuman, C., Szego, M. J., Monfared, N., Bowdin, S., ... & Meyn, M. S. (2015). Predictive genetic testing for adult‐onset disorders in minors: a critical analysis of the arguments for and against the 2013 ACMG guidelines. Clinical genetics, 87(4), 301-310.
Leighton, J. W., Valverde, K., & Bernhardt, B. A. (2012). The general public’s understanding and perception of direct-to-consumer genetic test results. Public health genomics, 15(1), 11-21.
Lemke, A. A., Bick, D., Dimmock, D., Simpson, P., & Veith, R. (2013). Perspectives of clinical genetics professionals toward genome sequencing and incidental findings: a survey study. Clinical genetics, 84(3), 230-236.
