The Precision Medicine Revolution
We are very lucky to be living through a medical revolution. Yet very few people are talking about it. The incredibly flawed, symptom-first approach that Western medicine has used for the last 500 years is about to change radically, and for the better!
There has been an explosion in research over the past 10 to 20 years that has identified the predictors of human performance, illness, and lifespan. Research scientists have mapped areas in DNA - called SNPs - that determine an individual’s response to diet, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors. These genetic traits also significantly alter a person’s risk of illnesses like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, insulin resistance, and osteoporosis.
Precision medicine is personalized medicine. Precision medicine relies on this groundbreaking research and truly focuses on the individual by taking into account their genetic makeup and their lifestyle preferences when determining how to reduce health risks and optimize their diet, sleep, supplements, and exercise.
Have you ever wondered why one member of a family is overweight while the rest are not, though they have similar diet and exercise habits? Or why do one or two family members have type II diabetes and the rest do not? Many of these risks are inherited through genetic variations that we can easily identify with basic DNA tests.
The great news is when your doctor is armed with this information, we can literally change your future. We can identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and risks, and we can maximize your performance and reduce your long-term health risks.
We are all inundated with “health” or “improved performance” information every day through social media posts and articles in traditional media. So, why do most of us still have so many questions?
Should I eat a high-fat or high-carb diet?
What is the best form of exercise for me?
Why do I feel so rundown, bloated, or foggy-headed?
Well, the answers to these questions are remarkably simple.
The right exercise, diet, and sleep plan to optimize performance is different for everyone, and the right regimen for you is determined by your genes!
Some people will gain muscle mass and energy on one regimen, while for others that same regimen would lead to weight gain, increased fatigue, and impaired metabolism.
Sadly, the recommendations you get from most doctors or medical specialists are guided by population-based studies that do not take into account your personal genetic makeup or your metabolism.
Does your doctor know if you have more of a hunter-gatherer genome or more of a farmer genome? Of course not.
Do they know what enzymes you have or are lacking that dictate whether you can process fats or carbs properly, or whether you lack key enzymes that are needed for proper vitamin or nutrient absorption and use? No.
Therefore, they can not provide you with any truly evidence-based recommendations to improve your performance and overall health!
Rise Precision Medicine is driven by our passion to use science and evidence-based practices not just to prevent illness, but to improve our patients’ health and daily lives.
