Genetics and Genetic Disorders

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Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Gene Test Might Someday Gauge Your Heart Attack Risk

Can a DNA test predict a person’s future heart health? Perhaps, researchers say. A team of...
Sperm DNA Damage May Lead to Repeat Miscarriages: Study

When couples experience recurrent pregnancy loss, it’s natural for them to want to know why. Now,...
High Testosterone Levels Are Bad News for the Heart

High testosterone levels can drastically increase a man’s risk of heart failure and stroke-causing blood clots,...

More Genetics and Genetic Disorders News

Happiness in Marriage May Rest in Your Genes
Your long-term happiness in marriage may hinge on the genes you and your partner...
- Posted March 1, 2019
- 5
Health Tip: Know Your Family’s Medical History
(HealthDay News) — Having full knowledge of your family health history is empowering and...
- Posted February 6, 2019
- 4
Gene-Linked Iron Disorder More Common Than Thought
The most common genetic disorder among northern Europeans — called hemochromatosis — occurs more...
- Posted January 17, 2019
- 4
Decoding Newborn’s DNA Could Pinpoint Hidden Risks
A program that maps out the genes of newborns has allowed researchers to identify...
- Posted January 4, 2019
- 5
Could Pot Harm Men’s Sperm?
New research shows that marijuana causes genetic changes in sperm, though it’s not clear...
- Posted December 19, 2018
- 16
Many Americans Unaware of Promise of Targeted, ‘Personalized’ Medicine: Poll
Medical science has made tremendous advances in “personalized medicine” — drugs that fight cancer...
- Posted December 6, 2018
- 5
Like Coffee? You May Be Genetically Wired That Way
Coffee’s bitter taste shouldn’t be a selling point. But a genetic variant explains why...
- Posted November 15, 2018
- 2
Home Health-Care Tests: Proceed With Caution
Home pregnancy tests are commonplace, but that doesn’t mean that every type of self-test...
- Posted November 7, 2018
- 2
Smartphones, Summer Birth Could Raise Kids’ Odds for Nearsightedness
Kids with summer birthdays, especially those who spend long hours playing on smartphones and...
- Posted November 7, 2018
- 4
Does Stroke Run in Your Family? Healthy Living Lowers the Risk
Has stroke hit your family particularly hard? A healthy lifestyle may be your best...
- Posted October 25, 2018
- 1
A Labrador’s Color Might Determine Its Life Span
In some bad news for chocolate Labrador Retriever lovers everywhere, new research shows that...
- Posted October 22, 2018
- 0

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.