The at-home genetic testing industry claims to help patients by providing tools that can predict future health risks. But it's hard to know whether they're right for you.
Often they increase fears that we're "doomed by our genes," even though many of the diseases and conditions that testing kits screen for aren't necessarily rooted in our genes. Alzheimer's and heart disease, for example, are just as much influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors than they are genetics — perhaps even more so.
Here's a helpful overview of genetic testing kits from Consumer Reports. Give it a read to find out what you should know before you take an at-home genetic test:
consumerreports.org/genetic...
Have you ever had your genes tested? What was the experience like for you? And did you feel better or worse after getting the results?
