The Science Behind the Gensona Heart Health Genetic Test
Introduction Inflammation is essential to life. Responsible for the redness, heat, swelling and pain around an infected cut, for example, the inflammatory response defends the body against infection and helps coordinate the repair of damaged tissues and organs. Unfortunately, the inflammatory response is not always a force for good; there is now a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests it may be an important component of a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Interleukin as a Key Regulator of Inflammation The Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family of cytokines plays a key role in coordinating and regulating inflammation. The IL-1 gene is one of the first to be activated in an inflammatory response; IL-1 activates a wide number of the pro-inflammatory cells, proteins and other molecules, and is responsible for activating other cytokines and chemical messengers that maintain the inflammatory response.
