There are 2 important questions you should think about before you go through genetic testing:
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Genetic Testing: Throwing the FAMILY off Balance?
There is a giant debate in the healcare community about genetic testing. Some say it is good to know what goes on in your body to know what to look for in the future. The reverse of that is "Are you playing God?"
We don't want to play either side, but we do want you be as informed as possible about what decision is best for you and your family becuase the more information you have, the more confidence you can have in making decisions and the more you can live a life of balance and authority.
Here are some quick facts about genetic testing and what you should know on BOTH sides of the issue from familydoctor.org
If you think you may be at high risk for an inherited disease, talk to your family doctor. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and the health of your blood relatives. This information will help your doctor find out what your risks might be. The information your doctor gives you about your risks can help you decide whether you want to be tested.
1. What can I gain by being tested?
Here are some reasons you might want genetic testing:
- You might not be so worried about getting a disease.
- You might be able to change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of getting a disease.
- Your doctor will know how often to check you to see if a disease is developing.
- You might be able to take medicine to prevent the disease.
2. Are there any negative effects of testing?
Here are some reasons you might not want to know that you could be at risk for a certain disease:
- Testing may make you more worried about getting sick.
- Testing may give you stress, make you feel guilty or strain your family relationships.
- Testing could lead to problems with employers or insurance companies.
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