Travel genes

I'm not afraid of heights. Flying causes me no stress or anxiety. I've had the privilege to travel far and wide. But, truth be told, I tend to get sick when flying overseas. 

To prevent illness, I have to really look after myself before boarding a plane. I've shared some of my travel tips here. However, because as a family, we tend to pack a lot of activity into our holiday, and we tend to travel light, seldom do I have the reserves to nourish myself optimally before boarding the flight home. 

This week, as I listened to functional medicine practitioners share their thoughts on genes, I came across some fascinating information. Before I share this information, let me make it clear that I have not had my genes tested. Neither has anyone in my family. And I don't want my genes to become a part of my story. What I'm about to share is speculative. I recognize that while we may have genetic predispositions to health conditions, our genes are not our destiny. It has become clear that genomics (study of genes within an organism) account for just one small piece of a rapidly growing health puzzle. There are a lot of other "omics" to take into consideration.

Apparently there are travel genes. As many of you know, my husband loves to travel. Around 20% of the population has a gene variant (DRD4-7R) that lowers sensitivity to dopamine (the reward and motivation brain chemical), thereby leading them to seek experiences that increase dopamine production. Could my husband be a carrier of this "wanderlust gene" as it's been nicknamed? Is he genetically predisposed to travel?

I, on the other hand, suffer adverse health effects when I travel. Could I possibly have a mutation that can make long distance travel dangerous for me? Perfectly fit, healthy, young people who are unfortunate enough to have a Factor V gene variant called "Factor V Leiden" (or as I like to call it "the stay close to home gene") have died suddenly due to long distance travel. This gene variant increases the likelihood of developing blood clots.

I have a family history of peripheral vascular disease, which too increases the likelihood of blood clots. Several of my father's immediate relatives have had legs amputated because of it. Fortunately, while dad has had the diagnosis for decades, it has been well managed through movement, lifestyle and medical care.

When I fly, and when I find myself at high altitudes, I swell up more than the average person. With inflammation one becomes more susceptible to clotting. When blood does not circulate well for a prolonged period of time, the likelihood of experiencing any adverse health condition increases dramatically.

I'm not a hypochondriac. Seldom do I find a need to see a doctor. But, as I did a little more research, I came across a medical doctor at McMaster who has published widely on the Factor V Leiden gene. I contacted him. I expressed my concerns. He recommended I get tested.

Being fully aware that the environment, my beliefs and my lifestyle choices have a significant impact on what genes I express, if I were to find out I had a mutation in my Factor V gene, no big deal. Knowledge is power. The information gleaned would just nudge me to be even more careful to minimize inflammation when traveling abroad and to continue to focus on the fundamentals - food, activity, sleep and sanity. I may get tested and write about it at some point.

For now I'll leave you with this. Imagine, someone with the "wanderlust gene", who's predisposed to travel, finds him/herself married to another with the "stay close to home gene"? Disastrous? On the contrary, opposites attract for a reason. It's essential for healthy procreation. Diversity increases the likelihood of giving birth to healthy, adaptive offspring - just another way to ensure survival of the species. Nature works in mysterious ways.

Originally published August 25th, 2017