Listado de la etiqueta: genetics

Pharmacogenetics: medicines according to your genetics

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Pharmacogenetics: medicines according to your genetic

Precision medicine and lifestyle: an integrative approach

Pharmacogenetics: medicines according to your genetics is an innovative approach that puts personalised health within reach of every individual. In precision and lifestyle medicine, the aim is not to exclude medicines, but to integrate them into a holistic approach that, through healthy habits, allows in many cases to reduce their use or even make them unnecessary. Through nutrition, physical activity, stress management and rest, among others, many patients can achieve optimal health without relying solely on drugs. However, when the use of drugs is necessary, pharmacogenetics can personalise their doses and avoid side effects by tailoring them to the genetics of each patient.

How does pharmacogenetic influence treatments?

Pharmacogenetic studies how genetic variations affect an individual’s response to medicines. Although we all share more than 99.9% of our DNA, these small variations can determine whether a drug is effective, whether its dosage needs to be adjusted or whether it may produce adverse effects. Pharmacogenetics: medicines according to your genetics becomes a key concept in understanding how medical treatments can be adjusted to maximise their benefits for each individual patient.

pharmacogenetic

Pharmacogenetic

Metaboliser types: a key to pharmacogenetic

One of the greatest advantages of pharmacogenetic is that it allows us to know what type of metaboliser we are. This classification helps us to understand why some people respond well to certain drugs, while others experience side effects or do not get the relief they expect. The types of metabolisers, according to pharmacogenetic, are:

  1. Poor metabolisers: they process medicines slowly, which can lead to accumulation in the body and increase the risk of toxicity.
  2. Intermediate metabolisers: have slightly slower enzyme activity, which may require adjustment of the drug dose.
  3. Normal metabolisers: process drugs at an average rate and usually obtain the appropriate therapeutic effect without adjustment.
  4. Ultra-rapid metabolisers: these eliminate medicines too quickly, which can reduce their effectiveness and, in some cases, require an increase in dosage.

Example of a pharmacogenetic test

Pharmacogenetic: medicines according to your genetic allows doctors to adjust medication and doses precisely according to the type of metaboliser, minimising risks and maximising benefits.

Pharmacogenetic

One-size-fits-all medicines: the challenge of the same dose for everyone

Traditionally, medicines have been prescribed on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model. This standard approach ignores genetic differences in individuals, which carries two major risks:

  1. Overdosage: In slow metabolisers, the drug may accumulate, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
  2. Lack of therapeutic effect: in rapid metabolisers, the drug may not reach the required concentration in the body, reducing its efficacy.

With pharmacogenetics: medicines according to your genetics, it is possible to personalise treatments to avoid these problems and adjust medicines according to each patient’s unique biology.

Genes influencing pharmacogenetic

The response to certain drugs is influenced by specific genes that affect their metabolisation. Some of the most important genes in pharmacogenetics include:

  • CYP2D6 y CYP2C19: affect the response to antidepressants, antipsychotics and analgesics. Thanks to pharmacogenetic, the dosage can be adjusted by choosing an alternative drug.
  • SLCO1B1: determines the transport of statins, used to lower cholesterol. Some people with variants in this gene are at increased risk of muscle side effects.

Pharmacogenetic: medicines according to your genetic optimises the selection of medicines and avoids adverse reactions thanks to the knowledge of the patient’s genetic profile.

Personalised medication: tailoring treatment to your genetics

In contrast to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ model, pharmacogenetic proposes a personalised medication approach that improves the safety and efficacy of treatments:

  1. Increased safety: side effects are minimised by tailoring medication to the genetics of each patient, avoiding hospitalisations.
  2. Optimised efficacy: medicines are adapted to the individual’s metabolism, improving their results.
  3. Reduced testing and errors: pharmacogenetic saves time and resources by selecting the most appropriate treatments from the outset.

Conclusion: towards truly personalised medicine

Pharmacogenetic: medicines according to your genetic represents a fundamental advance in personalised medicine. This approach allows treatments to be tailored to individual needs, reducing risks and improving outcomes. With the integration of pharmacogenetic, medicine is moving towards tailor-made solutions, adapted to the genetic profile and lifestyle of each patient.

Would you like to know how pharmacogenetic can optimise your treatment? At Bhital.com, we are here to help you discover the benefits of precision medicine and healthy lifestyle. Book your appointment or send us a WhatsAppal 669 979 939 and transform your health with a tailored approach.

Migraine

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Migraine

Did you know that migraine is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide?

40% of patients have no diagnosis and more than 50% self-medicate with over-the-counter painkillers.

According to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), migraine affects more than 5 million people in Spain, of whom more than 70% are severely disabled and 14% are moderately disabled.

In addition, 1.5 million people in Spain suffer from chronic migraine, so called when patients experience headaches 15 or more days a month. Resulting in decreased productivity, impaired quality of life and four to six times more disability than episodic migraine.

Definition of migraine

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that also has vascular components. It is primarily considered a neurological disorder due to its origin in the central nervous system and its clinical manifestations affecting brain function.

Although primarily a neurological disorder, it also involves vascular changes. During a migraine attack, it is believed that there is dilation of intracranial and extracranial blood vessels, which contributes to the throbbing pain characteristic of migraine.

Neurogenic inflammation is also observed, where nerve endings release inflammatory substances around blood vessels in the brain.

Migraine is a complex problem related to the interaction between genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. This interaction may manifest itself differently for each individual patient. Nutrition, gut health and support of mitochondrial function are important lifestyle-based treatment strategies for clinicians to consider when working with a patient suffering from chronic migraine.

Nutrition is one such lifestyle-based treatment strategy. Nutritional interventions that emphasise nutrients that support mitochondrial function (Co-Q10, Folates, B2, B6, Mg,…) are of specific importance.

Migraine

Symptoms

  • They can vary, but are often presented as
    • Recurrent episodes of moderate to severe headache, usually unilateral, which may last from 4 to 72 hours.
    • Associated neurological symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia).
    • In addition, some people experience an «aura», which are visual, sensory or speech symptoms that precede or accompany the headache.

Which disease can be confused with migraine?

The pain of a bleeding brain aneurysm can sometimes be mistaken for a migraine headache. Therefore, if you have a severe headache, go to an emergency department to rule out more serious causes.

Types of migraine

  • Migraine without aura: headache without previous neurological symptoms.
  • Migraine with aura: includes visual, sensory or speech symptoms before the headache.
  • Chronic migraine: migraine episodes that occur 15 or more days per month.

Possible causes of migraine

1. Excess Histamine

Excess histamine in the body can trigger migraines. The causes of this excess include:

  • Polimorfismos en el gen AOC1: este gen codifica la enzima diamina oxidasa (DAO), responsable de descomponer la histamina. Genetic variations may reduce their activity.
  • Excess endogenous production: caused by allergies, infections and other factors.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease: conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can decrease DAO activity.
  • Intestinal dysbiosis: an imbalance in the intestinal flora can increase histamine production.
  • Medicines: more than 90 drugs may inhibit DAO.
  • Stress: chronic stress can affect histamine levels and aggravate migraines.

Intestinal problems

Certain medicines

2. Oestrogens

Fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly oestrogen, can trigger migraines. Women may experience migraines during the menstrual cycle due to changes in oestradiol levels.

3. Elevated homocysteine levels

Elevated homocysteine may be linked to migraines. Causes include:

  • MTHFR polymorphism: this genetic variation can affect the methylation of homocysteine, increasing its levels in the body.

Genetic polymorphisms

4. Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate, a common additive in processed foods to improve their taste, can trigger migraines in sensitive people.

Diagnosis of migraine

In addition to specific examinations by your neurologist, it is advisable to investigate possible triggers, among other tests:

  • Blood tests: to assess histamine and homocysteine levels.
  • Serum DAO activity: to detect DAO enzyme deficiencies.
  • Allergy testing: to identify possible allergic triggers.
  • Genetic testing: to rule out polymorphisms in the DAO and MTHFR genes.

Recommendations

Once your neurologist has diagnosed the absence of a major cause. It is advisable, in addition to your pharmacological treatment, to rule out possible causes that may be behind it and that are preventing you from having a good quality of life.

Conclusion

Migraine is a multifaceted neurological disorder with significant vascular components. This combination of neurological and vascular factors is what makes it such a debilitating and difficult disorder to treat.

Although there are drugs that can help during attacks, it is essential to identify the underlying causes of migraine for effective and personalised treatment. This approach not only improves the patient’s quality of life but also reduces the frequency and intensity of your crises.

Request a free orientation appointment with Dra. Carmen Romero on WhatsApp 699 979 939.