Would I want to know if I had a genetic predisposition? 

By Chloe

What is a genetic predisposition?
A genetic predisposition is an increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on a person's genetic makeup.  According to http://imaginewellnesscentre.com "They can affect your energy level, accelerate oxidation, and affect cells function leading you to poor health." A genetic predisposition results from specific genetic variations that are often inherited from a parent. These genetic changes contribute to the development of a disease but do not directly cause it. Some people with a predisposing genetic variation will never get the disease while others will, even within the same family.
                    
          

Would I want to know if I had a genetic predisposition?
Yes because in people with a genetic predisposition, the risk of disease can depend on multiple factors in addition to an identified genetic change. These include other genetic factors (sometimes called modifiers) as well as lifestyle and environmental factors. Diseases that are caused by a combination of factors are described as multifactorial. Although a person's genetic makeup cannot be altered, some lifestyle and environmental modifications (such as having more frequent disease screenings and maintaining a healthy weight) may be able to reduce disease risk in people with a genetic predisposition.
           
        

What can genetic predisposition cause?
Current research is focused on identifying genetic changes that have a small effect on disease risk but are common in the general population. Although each of these variations only slightly increases a person's risk, having changes in several different genes may combine to increase disease risk significantly. Changes in many genes, each with a small effect, may underlie susceptibility to many common diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental illness.