Precision Medicine

Precision medicine embodies personalized health care because it uses your genetic profile and unique lifestyle factors to determine your medical care. Helo Chen, DO, and the team at Serenity Medical Centers offer precision medicine, an advanced field that’s widely available today, thanks to advances in genetic testing. To learn how personalized medicine can protect and improve your health, call the Austin or San Antonio, Texas office or request an appointment online today.

What is precision medicine?

Precision medicine, often called personalized medicine, is an approach to prevent and treat disease. It’s based on each person’s genetic profile, lifestyle habits, and environmental influences.

Conventional medicine follows a one-size-fits-all protocol. People who have similar medical histories and share the same symptoms and diagnosis receive the same medication. Some patients improve; others don’t.

They respond differently because each person’s unique genetic profile determines how their body metabolizes and uses medications. Precision medicine solves that problem by tailoring treatments to meet your body’s needs.

How does precision medicine prevent health problems?

There are several ways precision medicine can prevent disease and help you live a longer, healthier life:

Genetic testing

Genetic testing reveals mutations that increase your risk for disease and detect existing disease at the cellular level, long before symptoms appear.

If you have a family history of diseases like arthritis, cancer, dementia, diabetes, and heart disease, you have a higher risk of developing the same problem. Genetic testing targets the known mutations associated with that disease and shows whether you carry the risk.

One type of genetic test, whole genome sequencing, can diagnose or reveal your risk for rare diseases and an incredible range of common conditions, from heart disease and cancer to immune deficiencies and neuromuscular diseases.

Lifestyle and environmental influences

Your genetics may increase your risk of certain diseases, but they don’t predict your future. Your lifestyle continuously affects gene activity. The foods you eat, whether you smoke, and the amount of exercise you get can activate or stop genes, turning them on or off and changing their influence on your health.

What should I expect with precision medicine?

The team at Serenity Medical Centers talks with you about precision medicine after reviewing your family and medical history, completing a physical exam, and running bloodwork. 

When appropriate for your medical needs, they may recommend precision medicine. Your provider gives you all of the information you need about genetic testing and answers your questions, so you can make the best choice for your health and well-being.

If you have questions about precision medicine and how it might help you prevent disease, call Serenity Medical Centers or use the online booking feature today.