While we may believe eating an apple a day will keep the doctor away, our healthcare journey is often based on what goes unseen.
Genetics play a powerful role in shaping our health, from our susceptibility to certain health conditions to how our bodies react to treatment methods.
Why do certain conditions run in families? It often comes down to our genetic makeup and predispositions.
What does it mean to have a genetic predisposition for a certain condition and can a whole-body MRI scan be the answer to early identification and prevention strategies?
Keep reading to find out!
What Does it Mean to Have a “Genetic Predisposition?”
A genetic predisposition, also called genetic susceptibility, is the increased risk of developing a certain health condition or disease based on genetic makeup. Genetic predispositions are often passed down in families from one generation to the next; however, a spontaneous genetic change is possible.
Genetic predispositions increase your likelihood of developing a specific disease and, with the right contributing factors in place, could lead to the development of the condition.
Common Health Conditions Related to Genetic Predisposition
Common conditions related to genetic predispositions include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Various cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, and thyroid cancers
- Stroke
- Coronary artery disease
- Polycystic kidney disease
Is Prevention Possible? A Full Body MRI Scan May be the Answer
A typical visit to a doctor’s office is focused primarily on treatment for a disease we already have, rather than prevention strategies for what could come. When it comes to conditions with genetic predispositions, such as certain forms of cancer, early detection can be difficult.
For example, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at the stage where treatment is limited. Often at this late stage, the 5-year survival rate is only 11 percent.
So, is prevention even a possibility for ovarian cancers and other silent cancer killers?
A full-body MRI scan may be the answer.
A recent study by the Institute of Cancer Research found that a “whole-body MRI picked up potentially deadly tumors in men and women with mutations in a crucial gene called TP53.”
Within this study, undergoing a single whole-body MRI scan detected at least one tumor that would have had fatal consequences if left untreated in as many as 14% of the participants with a damaged TP53 gene.
A full-body MRI scan at MRI Wellness creates detailed images for 13 organ systems and nearly 500 health conditions, including conditions that currently have no available screening test. This latest advancement in healthcare technology allows you to take a proactive approach to your health, tackling conditions and health risks before they even begin to show symptoms.
Take a Proactive Approach to Prevention with MRI Wellness
When you schedule a full-body MRI scan near you, you are opting to leverage the latest technological advancements to give yourself more time.
More time enjoying your favorite activities, more time with those you love, more time to just be present and live – without complication or concern for your future.
At MRI Wellness, we check for hundreds of conditions and continue to make discoveries every day.
Are you ready to take a proactive approach to your health?
Schedule a full body scan near you today with MRI Wellness in Charleston, SC!
