It was late Friday night – the email arrived to let me know that my Navigenics genetic test results were ready.
I thought for a second – am I ready? But without another thought I logged in and there they were.
As I scanned the private report, I realized that there was a lot of information. I went from top to bottom, focusing on the conditions that were important to me – heart attack, Alzheimer’s, diabetes.
My quick read was “relief” – no surprises – the conditions that I was at higher than normal risk for were ones that occurred in my family. My dad lived to age 87 and my mom to age 84; the conditions that I think I need to pay attention to were the same ones that they were afflicted with.
But I have the chance to do something about it.
And that “doing” something about it started on Saturday – more focus on my diet (oatmeal instead of waffles), a greater commitment to exercise, and planning for more changes to help me address the things that will potentially will be in my future.
My genetic test results were another reinforcement of my belief that health isn’t something that happens to you - it is something you co-create. Being armed with insights about my future gives me more opportunity to “co-create” that future.
Thinking about my parents, I recognize the power of Navigenics is as transformative to health as mobile phones and the internet are to communication. I have a set of insights about the future that my parents could have never dreamed of – and the power to take action.
The “golfing” concept of “play it as it lies” really holds true here. My test results were not influenced by my input, either from an incomplete medical history or from subjective answers to questions. The science told the story –and it was strikingly consistent with my family history.
My quest for insights and peace of mind continues with Navigenics. Next stop: my genetic counselor.