DNA testing is all the rage today. With a simple cheek swab, you can access data revealing which parts of the world your ancestors hailed from. You can even test your pets’ DNA now.
But did you know that among its many uses, DNA testing can offer health benefits, as well? What if you could use a DNA test to determine which medications are harmful to your body and health? Well, now you can, with a Parallel Profile!
Have you ever sat in your doctor’s office and found yourself at a loss for words when asked what medications you can’t take? I usually sit in stunned silence for a moment before answering that I think I may be allergic to some over-the-counter drug I took once. This is exactly the question that a Parallel Profile will help you to answer. And it’ll even provide you with a neat little card you can hand to your doctor with a list of those medications!
Did you know that there is not a single drug in existence that works properly for every person? In the past, the only way to know if you might have an adverse drug reaction was trial and error. And in some cases, error with something as serious as medication can result in serious harm to your health, or even fatalities. Unfortunately, even if a drug has worked for someone in your family, it’s no guarantee that it’s the right one for you. In fact, even if a drug has worked for you before, if it’s not a match for your DNA, it could do you damage in the future!
My journey from receiving my Parallel Profile test in the mail to getting my results was effortless. First I selected the test I wanted (I went with the Premium version so I would have full access to all of my results forever); then I got my phone consultation from one of their doctors to walk me through the process. After receiving the kit in the mail, I sent in my cheek swab. And after about two weeks, I got an email saying my test results were available on my profile!
There are currently over 1,000 drugs with results on Parallel Profile. And this number will continue to grow as more data becomes available. Fortunately, if you’ve paid for the Premium version, you never need to take the test again***, as this data will continue to be applied to your results for a $2 monthly subscription after the first year. When I logged in, I discovered that there are 36 drugs out of this list that I can never take–and now my doctors have that information, too! And there are another 138 drugs for which I’m at higher risk of an adverse reaction. I never would have learned this without a Parallel Profile. And now I can carry this information with me for life!
But that’s still not all. My Parallel Profile also came with a list of medications that shouldn’t be mixed with the ones I’m currently on. This is information your doctor should already know, anyway, but it’s still pretty cool to be able to see it for yourself. It’s just more information to consider if you’re looking at options to treat a condition. I also received a list of some common conditions and whether I might be at a higher or lower risk for them.
In short, my experience with Parallel Profile was easy and invaluable. And it will continue to give me value for the rest of my life! I believe this is information that all human beings should have about their own bodies. What doctors are able to do with DNA today is incredible and may save your or your loved one’s life someday. Please consider looking into it.
***I stated above that the test would never need to be taken again as new medicines are added, but as science advances, it is possible that additional genes could be discovered to impact drugs. Should this occur, Parallel Profile would notify current customers and offer a reduced rate to add those results to their profiles.
