In the age-old nature vs. nurture (genetics vs. environment/lifestyle) debate, while it is well established that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of heart disease, what about people who have specific gene variants known to increase risk? In those cases, can a healthy lifestyle override one’s genes? In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce genetic risk of heart disease.
The study involved more than 55,000 participants that were followed for up to 20 years. Researchers found that the presence of healthy lifestyle factors such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular exercise, profoundly reduced the risk of a heart attack in those with the highest genetic risk for heart disease. In other words, DNA is not our destiny.
Comments: Thank God we are in the driver’s seat when it comes to our health! Genetics loads the gun but we pull the trigger. While we cannot change our genes, we can change our lifestyle. It’s all about choices. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely! At my office, I provide patients with the information and therapeutic interventions needed to keep them healthy well into their 80’s and 90’s. Despite poor genetics, the robust health I enjoy is a direct result of the same program I utilize for my patients. While many men my age are starting to fall apart, mentally and physically, I am healthier and in better shape than most men half my age.
