How you feel is partly down to genetics

[Guest guest]

How you feel is partly down to genetics

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=33691

You can blame your parents for your hair that frizzes in high

humidity and for your short stature. And now researchers at Saint

Louis University School of Public Health say your genetic makeup

partly dictates how physically and mentally healthy you feel.

Their study, which was funded by the National Institute of Aging,

which is part of the National Institutes of Health, found that

genetics are about 33 percent responsible for how we feel physically

and about 36 percent responsible in determining our mental and

emotional well-being. It was published in the November issue of

Medical Care.

" Attitudes and perceptions have a genetic piece and an environmental

piece, " said Romeis, Ph.D., professor of health services

research at Saint Louis University School of Public Health and the

principal investigator of the study.

" Health-related quality of life is our perception of health and how

we believe disease and illness impacts our ability to function. It's

much more influenced by genes than we thought. "

The researchers looked at a total of 2,928 middle-age, middle-class,

predominately white men who were on the Vietnam Era Twin Registry and

interviewed them over the phone about their health.

They compared information they received from sets of identical twins

(who have exactly the same genes) with fraternal twins (who share

half their genes). The researchers asked about eight factors that

measure health-related quality of life -- physical functioning,

physical limitations, pain, general health, vitality, ability to

function socially, emotional limitations and mental health.

" This isn't just an attitude. This is an attitude that is deeply

rooted in their soul - not only their psychology but their biology, "

Romeis said. " The genetic influence is something we haven't

recognized before and we have to give it more thought. "

Romeis says he doubts that there is any one gene that predisposes men

to feel healthy.

" However it is plausible that there are complex genetic relationships

that affect how we feel about the quality of our health. "

The findings may shed light on how people use health services, such

as why some people are more likely to call the doctor about medical

problems than others or why some don't follow prescribed medical

treatments, he added.

They also help to explain why health promotion and prevention

efforts, such as a new dietary pyramid and new recommendations for

exercise, may not be enough to overcome the force of genetics to help

people become healthier.

" Further research is warranted, " Romeis said.