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Cardiovascular Genomics
Find expert care in cardiovascular genomics and cardiac genetic testing through functional medicine in Los Angeles and Burbank. Genetic heart screening helps identify inherited cardiac and vascular risks early.
Dr. Cynthia Thaik, M.D. specializes in holistic care for patients living with, or at risk of, inherited heart and vascular conditions. As a leading cardiologist in Los Angeles, her practice focuses on genetic heart assessment and personalized cardiovascular care.
The American Heart Association reports that nearly 46% of U.S. adults—approximately 116.4 million people—live with hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure. Every 38 seconds, someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease, while a stroke claims a life about every 3.7 minutes.
These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for early detection and proactive heart disease prevention. Advanced genetic heart testing, personalized cardiac screening, and functional medicine–based care help identify inherited cardiovascular risks and support more informed, preventive treatment decisions.
Genetic Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly one in four deaths. While treatments such as aspirin, cholesterol-lowering medications, and medical devices like pacemakers have improved outcomes, heart-related conditions continue to claim a significant number of lives each year.
Inherited heart disease is an important contributor to cardiovascular risk. Everyone carries some level of genetic risk, which can influence how and when heart conditions develop. However, genetics alone do not determine heart health.
Lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and overall health habits also play a critical role in cardiovascular outcomes. Understanding how genetic risk interacts with these factors helps support earlier detection, better prevention strategies, and more informed heart care decisions.
What Is Cardiovascular Genomics?
Genomics is the study of the entire genome, rather than a focus on a single gene. Cardiovascular genomics examines how genes work together to influence heart disease. The development of cardiovascular disease involves both nature and nurture. Nature includes a person’s genetic risk for inherited heart conditions and vulnerability to acquired disease. Nurture includes factors such as diet, exercise, and environmental exposure.
Diet clearly shows how nurture affects heart health. Every food or nutrient you consume can help or harm your body, depending on your genetic makeup. As a result, your health may improve or decline based on dietary choices.
Diet, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Genomics
Unfortunately, many foods in the Western diet contribute to inflammation in the body. Inflammation can activate genes that harm cardiovascular health. However, genetic testing for cardiovascular disease helps identify the diet that best reduces this risk.
Genetics plays an important role in preventing heart disease. One dietary option is the Mediterranean diet, which includes generous amounts of olive oil. Research shows that adding just four tablespoons of olive oil per day can significantly lower risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
By exploring cardiovascular genomics, you can learn whether the Mediterranean diet fits your genetic profile or whether another dietary approach better supports your heart health.
Cardiac Genetic Testing Through Cardiovascular Genomics
When it comes to cardiac genetic testing for Los Angeles patients, Dr. Cynthia Thaik, M.D. uses an advanced microarray platform called CardiaX. This platform identifies special needs plans linked to increased genetic predispositions for multiple medical conditions associated with heart disease. Patients with a family history of cardiovascular issues or relatives with heart and vascular problems benefit most from CardiaX. If your family medical history remains unknown, doctors recommend undergoing genetic testing through CardiaX. People who struggle to manage obesity, hypertension, or dyslipidemia, as well as those with early-onset heart disease without a clear cause, should consider CardiaX testing. It offers valuable insight for individuals who want to understand their long-term cardiovascular risk.
In addition, genetic testing can identify family members who may have up to a 50% chance of sharing the same genetic heart condition. Moreover, we work with you to help your family understand their future risk of cardiovascular disease and how to reduce it. Therefore, families can take earlier steps toward prevention.
Furthermore, genomics includes inherited heart conditions such as congenital heart defects. In addition, it explains how genes interact with the environment, medications, and lifestyle choices. As a result, this information supports better prevention and treatment decisions.
Finally, our goal is to improve your cardiovascular health with care tailored to your body and individual needs.
Hereditary Heart Disease Genes: Are You Predisposed To Cardiovascular Disease?
CardiaX is capable of testing for many genes. There are many that are responsible for various heart problems. Fifteen are listed below.
- 9p21 gene: Inflammation, plaque rupture, thrombosis, AAA, ASCVD, CHD, MI, DM, IR.
- 6p241.1: CHD and DVT.
- 4q25: Atrial Fibrillation.
- ACE 1/D: HBP, LVH, CRI, nephroangiogenesis, microalbuminuria, carotid IMT, CHD, MI.
- COMT: CIID, MI, HBP, and use of ASA and vitamin E.
- 1q25: CHD in DM.
- APO E4: CHD, lipids, dietary response, omega 3 FA.
- MTHFR (A128C and C677T) for methylation: Endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, thrombosis, CVD, CIID, MI, CVA and hyper-homocyesteinemia.
- CYP 1A2: HBP, MI, CHD, tachycardia, stiff aorta, PWV, AL, SBP, PP, vascular inflammation,
- Corin: Hypertension, CHF with ANP and BNP, CRF, CVD, volume and sodium balance, eclampsia.
- CYP 11B2: HBP and aldosterone.
- GSHPx (gluthathione peroxidase): CIID and MI.
- ADR B2: HBP, PRA and DASH diet and RAAS drugs.
- HETE CYPAII and CYP4F2: HBP, sodium and volume overload. ENac, amiloride.
- AGTRI: ARB response
Comprehensive Evaluation and Management of Patients with Heritable Cardiovascular Disease
There are clear clinical benefits to having your cardiovascular genomics tested. First, these tests accurately assess both short- and long-term risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, early identification of specific cardiovascular risk factors allows doctors to personalize primary prevention strategies. As a result, testing helps reveal the steps you can take to reduce the risk of inherited heart conditions or prevent the onset of heart disease linked to your genetic profile.
Furthermore, genetic testing can determine how your body processes certain medications and substances. These include ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers) for hypertension, vasodilators such as Viagra, folate, caffeine, catecholamines, and drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).
Finally, CardiaX can also evaluate your genetic risk for a range of cardiovascular and related conditions, such as:
- Coronary artery disease
- Myocardial infarction
- Ischemic stroke
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Hypertension
- Congestive heart failure
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Vascular inflammation
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes mellitus
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
You have the opportunity to take your health into your own hands, learn about your personal risk factors and the steps that you in particular can take to prevent cardiovascular disease. More research is being conducted every day. Cardiovascular genomic testing is revolutionizing the way that we treat heart disease, by empowering patients’ ability to use primary preventive medicine. Drug therapy can be tailored to the findings of the process. Targeted anti-hypertensive therapy is an especially common beneficiary of CardiaX.
Choose the Holistic Healing Heart Center for Cardiac Genomics Testing and Treatment In Los Angeles
Evaluation and treatment by a qualified genetic counselor can greatly support cardiovascular health. After testing, Dr. Cynthia Thaik M.D. and her team can guide patients on preventive care and lifestyle changes, including whether reducing caffeine or using supplements may be helpful.
Cardiac genomics is especially valuable for individuals with a family history of heart disease or limited access to family medical records. By identifying genetic risks early, this approach helps reduce unexpected cardiac events and supports healthier, longer lives.
Meet Dr. Cynthia Thaik, MD - Functional & Integrative Cardiologist
Dr. Cynthia Thaik is a board-certified cardiologist who integrates functional medicine into her concierge practice with a specialized focus on cardiovascular and neurovascular optimization.
She devotes one week per month exclusively to functional medicine consultations via telehealth, allowing for deep, unrushed care. During this time, Dr. Thaik works closely with patients seeking transformation, root-cause healing, and individualized strategies grounded in integrative science.
Her approach combines:
- Precision diagnostics
- Advanced cardiovascular expertise
- Compassionate, heart-centered listening
- Extensive patient education
“Cardiovascular consultations and diagnostic services are covered by insurance. Functional medicine services are offered exclusively as concierge, self-pay services”
Schedule Your Telehealth Consultation with Dr. Cynthia
If you’re living with atrial fibrillation and want to explore natural treatment options, Dr. Cynthia is here to help. She provides telehealth consultations to guide you through personalized care plans, addressing lifestyle changes, supplement use, and stress management techniques tailored to your unique health needs.
Dr. Cynthia Thaik will perform a thorough cardiovascular assessment, looking at cardiac function, ruling out structural damage, checking paroxysmal atrial fibrillation symptoms, assessing the adverse effects of hypertension and dietary toxicity (alcohol, caffeine, excessive inflammatory foods), checking for vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and exploring the impact of stress on arterial tone and the autonomic nervous system regulation of the cardiovascular system.
The patient will have an option to receive individual coaching from a mindfulness instructor. Together, this integrative team approach to Afib will provide the patient with the best opportunity to address the root causes underlying the atrial fibrillation and hopefully restore normal sinus rhythm. As with all health conditions, our goal is to help Afib patients transition from symptoms and disease care to optimal health and wellness – true preventive cardiology.
If you have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and are looking for natural treatments, Schedule a virtual visit or call for Telehealth Appointment at (818) 842 1410
Frequently Asked Questions
Heart palpitations are often harmless, especially when they happen occasionally.
However, frequent or regular palpitations may be linked to an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation. If this continues for a long time, it can put extra strain on the heart.
In some cases, atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of heart failure or stroke due to blood clots. This is why ongoing palpitations should always be evaluated by a doctor.
Heart palpitations can be difficult to stop without first understanding the underlying cause. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can help reduce or prevent them.
Common steps include reducing stress, limiting stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet.
If a cardiologist identifies a more serious heart condition, medical treatment may be required. Certain medications can help control abnormal heart rhythms, but they are prescribed carefully due to possible side effects.
Always follow your doctor’s advice and seek medical care if palpitations are frequent or worsening.
Some people notice heart palpitations after eating certain foods or drinks. While an underlying medical condition may be involved, diet is often a common trigger.
Foods and beverages that may cause palpitations include:
- Sugary foods, especially in people sensitive to blood sugar changes
- Alcohol, particularly in those with irregular heart rhythms
- Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks
- Foods high in tyramine, including aged cheese and red wine
- Chocolate and bananas, which can increase heart rate in some people
If palpitations happen frequently after meals, keeping a food diary and speaking with a doctor can help identify triggers.
High blood pressure itself does not usually cause heart palpitations.
However, some medications used to treat high blood pressure may have palpitations as a side effect. This is often why people with high blood pressure experience them.
Low blood pressure, anxiety, stress, or heart rhythm issues are more common causes of palpitations. A doctor can help determine the exact reason.