It’s a question that people have been trying to answer for years and a topic that is frustrating for many. Why do diets seem to work for some people and not others? How come some people eat whatever they want and never gain a pound while others diet and continue to struggle with weight? People swear by diets like keto, paleo or fasting, touting weight loss of tens or even hundreds of pounds, but when others attempt these diets, they see no results. Why?
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Health insurance can be complex. How do you know if something is or isn’t covered in your plan? And what if you don’t have insurance? This can make decisions about your health, which may include genetic testing and genetic counseling, even harder to figure out. In this episode, we speak to Heather L. Shappell, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor with expertise in this area, to help demystify insurance as it pertains to genetic testing and genetic counseling.
Newborn screening is a group of screening tests performed shortly after a baby is born, typically while they are still in the hospital. It includes an evaluation of hearing, heart function and specific conditions detectable via blood. The goal of this type of testing is to look for critical conditions that, while not immediately noticeable, can impact the long-term health of a newborn. This allows for early detection, diagnosis and intervention to improve a child’s quality of life as well as reduce risk for disability or even death.
Ovarian cancer can be a silent killer. Most women are diagnosed with this cancer at later stages, as the symptoms are often silent or not recognized as indications of cancer in earlier stages in the midst of busy lives.
You likely have many questions about genetic counseling and genetic testing. Here are some of the more common questions.
During this global pandemic, social inequities and health disparities are being exposed and discussed more than ever. In this episode, we speak to expert researcher and genetic counselor, Altovise T. Ewing, PhD, LCGC, to raise awareness of these issues for people having genetic testing, so they can better navigate them.
In an effort to improve communication between patients and providers about genetic testing needs for cancer, LUNGevity Foundation coordinated a working group of stakeholders who evaluated terms used in patient education and clinical care. Ultimately, the group agreed on three terms to replace thirty-three other related terms, in hopes of simplifying things for patients.
Genetic testing can bring out this uncertainty when results are not as clear as we had hoped. And when you layer in a global pandemic that has many unknowns, this can get difficult. In this episode, our host, Deepti Babu, MS, CGC sits down with Marleah Dean Kruzel, PhD to offer listeners ways to navigate uncertainty when it comes to genetics and genetic testing.
At-home DNA tests are popular, but some direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies have cut their workforce following a slowdown in sales. Is the tide changing? If so, why?
Genetic testing for ancestry is more accessible and affordable than ever, and every day it is helping people crack the code on their family histories. These ancestry tests originally gained popularity as people wanted to learn more about where they came from, who their relatives were and what cultures they were tied to.