This area of genetic testing includes testing for hereditary predispositions to blood clotting disorders, which include thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and other genetic cardiovascular diseases.
The causes of cardiovascular diseases can be divided into two main groups. The first are uncontrollable risk factors, which include genetic disposition, age and gender. The second group consists of external risk factors, in other words the lifestyle, i.e. inappropriate diet, low physical activity, long-term stress, smoking, alcohol and other harmful substances.
Knowledge of innate predispositions to cardiovascular disease and increased blood clotting, revealed by a genetic analysis, can help prevent health complications and enable appropriate preventive measures to be taken or adequate treatment to be implemented in a timely manner. The test is particularly suitable for middle-aged people, when the risk of cardiovascular disease naturally increases, but it is equally useful before elective surgery and for women who want to minimise the risk of pregnancy complications.