If you have ever been diagnosed with a health condition, a biomarker is at stake, even if you have never heard the word. Biomarkers help medical care providers to identify, monitor and determine the risk of diseases, including heart disease, the main cause of death for women in the United States.
Biomarkers also play an important role in the development of medicines and treatment options for health conditions such as cancer. Here are more about the fascinating world of biomarkers and what you need to know about biomarker tests.
What is a biomarker?
A biomarker is a substance or biological sign that can be measured to evaluate health and disease. Biomarkers can be molecules, proteins, genes and other characteristics found in the blood, body fluids or tissue.
An example of a biomarker is blood glucose (sugar). High or blood sugar fluctuating levels are a sign of diabetes. A medical care provider can use blood sugar levels to advance with a diagnosis and the best treatment plan to control the condition.
Other examples of biomarkers may include:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Body temperature
- Cholesterol
Why are biomarkers important?
Biomarkers are important for many reasons. On the one hand, they can help identify underlying conditions and diseases, sometimes before the symptoms begin. Biomarkers also help predict how serious a condition and the appropriate treatment plan to choose from. For example, some biomarkers affect how cancer treatments work. A biomarker test can help guide personalized treatment and medicine adapted to the biomarkers of your body.
Biomarkers play an important role in the development of new treatments and medications for health conditions. Researchers can use biomarkers to measure important factors such as medication safety, dose and that it is more likely to benefit from treatment.
What are the types of biomarkers?
Biomarkers belong to different groups based on their purpose. These include:
- Susceptibility/risk: used to identify the potential to develop a health condition
- Diagnosis: It is used to confirm or identify a condition
- Prongics: used to determine the risk of disease and the possibility of recurrence and progression for people living with a health condition
- Monitoring: used to track the progress of a condition or treatment
- Predictive: used to predict how beneficial a treatment can be
- Pharmacodynamics/Answer: It is used to show changes in response to treatment
- Security: It is used to monitor the side effects of treatment
What are biomarker tests?
Biomarker tests are used to measure blood biomarkers, body fluids or tissues. These tests may include:
- Blood test
- Fabric biopsies
- Medical image
- Genetic test
- Urine tests
- Saliva tests
The results help medical care providers identify conditions and can be useful before, during and after a diagnosis, depending on the condition.
Women and biomarkers
Biomarkers can also help identify specific health conditions for women. For example, certain protein biomarkers can help identify gynecological cancers, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And biomarkers play a crucial role in early detection and breast cancer treatment.
Other biomarkers may include:
A recent one Metanalysis found MIKE Biomarkers can identify the exact stage of ovarian cancer, even the early stages, which can lead to more personalized treatments and better results.
When it comes to heart disease, biomarkers in their blood can help evaluate their risk of an important cardiovascular event. A recent one study found women with high levels of LDL cholesterol, LP (A) and C -reactive protein (PCR) They had approximately three times more likely to have a heart attack and almost four times more likely to have a stroke.
In a nutshell
Biomarker tests are generally recommended for people at risk or diagnosed with health conditions such as cancer. But the tests for all or covered by insurance cannot be recommended. As always, talk to your medical care provider on biomarker tests and if it is an option for you.
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