Q: What features does Living DNA provide that AncestryDNA does not?

Living DNA provides haplogroup assignments as well as maternal and paternal lineage testing. Living DNA is able to provide this information because of it’s 3-in-1 DNA test that analyzes autosomal, Y-, and mt-DNA. For comparison, AncestryDNA only tests autosomal DNA, and does not provide haplogroup, maternal, or paternal lineage information.

Q: What sorts of issues can a thyroid test detect?

A thyroid test can detect a variety of endocrine conditions. Simply put, the thyroid test can detect whether your body has enough thyroid hormone, and if the signal to produce thyroid hormone is the appropriate strength. Too little thyroid function is called hypothyroidism. It’s most common in post-menopausal women and people with the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In this instance your TSH reading would be too high – your brain is screaming to make more Thyroid Hormone, but not enough is produced. Too much thyroid function is called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is commonly associated with Grave’s disease, another autoimmune thyroid condition. Thyroid antibody production can indicate an autoimmune disorder. Certain thyroid tests like Everlywell’s or LetsGetChecked also test for thyroid antibody production.

Q: How do you know if you should take a thyroid test?

There are several reasons you might decide to take a thyroid test. A few common reasons include: If you are experiencing symptoms related to thyroid dysfunction. If thyroid cancer has occurred in your family If family members have other thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s or Grave’s disease.

Question 1

Which vendor is less expensive: Living DNA or AncestryDNA?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, both companies are similarly priced. [affiliate-link vendor="12281" deeplink-family="ancestry"]Living DNA does tend to be slightly less expensive[/affiliate-link] with sales or promotional pricing. Keep in mind, with Living DNA you won’t have the opportunity to build a family tree, but you will get more information about your ancient ancestry. If you are particularly interested in building a family tree or accessing AncestryDNA’s huge genealogy database, [affiliate-link vendor="12324" deeplink-family="ancestry"]you will have to pay an additional subscription fee[/affiliate-link].

Question 2

Who should choose Living DNA over AncestryDNA?

Accepted Answer

If you have ancestors from Africa, Germany, or the British Isles, you may want to choose Living DNA over AncestryDNA, since Living DNA specializes in these areas. For example, Living DNA has 72 African sub-regions while AncestryDNA only has nine. Living DNA also has 21 sub-regions just from the British Isles. The other big reason to consider Living DNA is if you are particularly interested in exploring your ancient ancestry and learning about your haplogroups.

Question 3

Who should choose AncestryDNA over Living DNA?

Accepted Answer

If you are interested in building a family tree you should choose AncestryDNA over Living DNA. Living DNA does not offer a family tree building option. Other reasons people may favor AncestryDNA include access to the massive historical archives and DNA matching databases. However, keep in mind that not all of these services are included with a DNA testing kit, you may have to pay a subscription fee if you want full access to these offerings.

Question 4

What features does Living DNA provide that AncestryDNA does not?

Accepted Answer

Living DNA provides haplogroup assignments as well as maternal and paternal lineage testing. Living DNA is able to provide this information because of it’s 3-in-1 DNA test that analyzes autosomal, Y-, and mt-DNA. For comparison, AncestryDNA only tests autosomal DNA, and does not provide haplogroup, maternal, or paternal lineage information.

Question 5

What features does AncestryDNA provide that Living DNA does not?

Accepted Answer

AncestryDNA provides extensive [affiliate-link vendor="12324" deeplink-family="family-tree"]family tree building software[/affiliate-link] and maintains the world’s largest historical database. These features help bring your family history to life and connect you with relatives. For comparison, Living DNA does not offer family tree building options and does not maintain a historical database.

Question 6

Which thyroid test is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Many at-home thyroid tests provide accurate results that are physician reviewed. In particular, [affiliate-link vendor="13227" ]EverlyWell[/affiliate-link] and [affiliate-link vendor="13158" ]LetsGetChecked[/affiliate-link] offer highly accurate thyroid tests.

Question 7

What sort of preparation needs to be done for thyroid testing?

Accepted Answer

Fortunately, a thyroid blood test does not require much preparation. If you are on a thyroid prescription medication, it is important that you take your medication accurately (30-60 min before breakfast on an empty stomach)  and consistently (everyday) for at least two weeks before checking your thyroid levels. That&rsquo;s also true if your dose changes.

Question 8

What are normal thyroid test results?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid test results (especially for medication adjustments) usually include three main readings:

Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) – this shows the strength of the signal your brain is sending to produce more thyroid hormone. The normal range for TSH is 0.27 – 4.2 mlU/L; although many endocrinologists recommend targeting TSH values of <2.0 mlU/L if you are taking synthetic thyroid hormone (aka thyroid meds).
- HIGH values mean a STRONG brain signal to the Thyroid Gland, and NOT ENOUGH thyroid hormone (T3/T4).
- LOW values mean a WEAK brain signal to the Thyroid Gland and TOO MUCH thyroid hormone.
Triiodothyronine (T3) – is a thyroid hormone that gets released into your bloodstream to help control metabolism. A high level of T3 might help confirm a hyperthyroidism diagnosis if T4 is normal. The standard range for serum T3 levels is 1.1-3.0 nmol/L).
Thyroxine (T4) – is also a thyroid hormone that gets released into your bloodstream. Other medical factors (pregnancy, asthma medication, etc) can affect normal levels of T4. But, usually the standard range is <60-145 mmol/L.
- Sometimes Free T4 is also tested because the values are unaffected by binding proteins.

Question 9

What sorts of issues can a thyroid test detect?

Accepted Answer

A thyroid test can detect a variety of endocrine conditions. Simply put, the thyroid test can detect whether your body has enough thyroid hormone, and if the signal to produce thyroid hormone is the appropriate strength.

Too little thyroid function is called hypothyroidism. It’s most common in post-menopausal women and people with the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In this instance your TSH reading would be too high – your brain is screaming to make more Thyroid Hormone, but not enough is produced.
Too much thyroid function is called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is commonly associated with Grave’s disease, another autoimmune thyroid condition.
Thyroid antibody production can indicate an autoimmune disorder. Certain thyroid tests like Everlywell’s or LetsGetChecked also test for thyroid antibody production.

Question 10

How do you know if you should take a thyroid test?

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons you might decide to take a thyroid test. A few common reasons include:

If you are experiencing symptoms related to thyroid dysfunction.
If thyroid cancer has occurred in your family
If family members have other thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s or Grave’s disease.

Question 11

How accurate are at-home cholesterol tests?

Accepted Answer

An at-home cholesterol test may or may not be as accurate as what a doctor can offer. Accuracy can vary depending on the brand. It’s important to note that a test can measure the amount of cholesterol you have, but it doesn’t always give a complete picture. Other factors such as smoking and high blood pressure also play roles in determining your heart’s condition, which a doctor will take into consideration.

Question 12

What sort of things can affect your cholesterol test results? (e.g., caffeine, fasting, alcohol, etc.)

Accepted Answer

There are foods and lifestyle factors that can influence your cholesterol levels. Foods such as cheeseburgers and fatty cuts of mean that have high saturated fat can raise cholesterol, along with high trans fat in others such as crackers and chips. Even egg yolks can raise your cholesterol levels. Aside from what you eat, smoking also lowers the amount of HDL cholesterol in your blood, which is useful for protecting you from heart disease.

Question 13

What can taking a cholesterol test tell you about your personal health?

Accepted Answer

While an at-home test can’t replace a doctor’s visit, it can at least give you an idea of where your cholesterol health stands. The results you receive from an at-home cholesterol test can indicate whether you need to start making lifestyle choices right away or if you need an appointment with your doctor. The most important thing you can do is get your cholesterol checked on a regular basis. An at-home cholesterol test offers convenience and flexibility without interrupting your regular routine.

Question 14

What do normal cholesterol test results look like?

Accepted Answer

Many at-home cholesterol tests look at specific genes linked to familial hypercholesterolemia (or FH). Those with FH are at a greater risk of developing heart disease.

In your results, testing companies will often report on the number of genetic variants it finds linked to FH from your sample. Depending on the lab’s findings, the company may recommend extra measures you can take to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Some companies also provide access to a genetic counselor who can help interpret your results for you in case you have any questions.

Question 15

Who should consider taking an at-home cholesterol test? (And how often?)

Accepted Answer

Everyone should get their cholesterol tested. Those who do not have access to a doctor or struggle to attend an appointment are ideal candidates for taking an at-home cholesterol test.

Testing frequency depends on one’s age. One general rule of thumb is for adults 20 years or older to get tested every four to six years. Adults older than 40 should get tested more often depending on their risk factors, which a doctor can help determine.

Question 16

Does MyHeritage cover the cost of shipping?

Accepted Answer

MyHeritage DNA covers the cost of sending you your test kit, but you must pay the return postage for mailing your sample back.

Question 17

How expensive is MyHeritage compared to competitors?

Accepted Answer

MyHeritage DNA’s tests start at [price vendor="myheritagedna" category="ancestry" ] are consistently less expensive than those of its chief competitors, [affiliate-link vendor="12293" ]23andMe[/affiliate-link], starting at [price vendor="23andme" category="ancestry" ] and [affiliate-link vendor="12324" ]AncestryDNA[/affiliate-link], starting at [price vendor="ancestry" category="ancestry" ].

Question 18

What sort of subscriptions plans does MyHeritage offer?

Accepted Answer

MyHeritage’s genealogy service is available in several tiers. Its [affiliate-link vendor="12306" deeplink-family="ancestry"]Basic service is free[/affiliate-link], but only allows you to add 250 people to your family tree, and doesn’t let you add Smart Matches from the company’s historical records database to your tree. The Premium subscription can accommodate 2,500 family members, and includes Smart Matches, as does its PremiumPlus subscription, which can accommodate a family tree of unlimited size. Then there is a Historical Record Data plan that is limited to 250 people, like the basic service, but lets you leverage the company’s entire 11.9-billion record database of historical data. And finally, the Complete package is limitless both in how many people your family tree can accommodate, and how many historical records you may access. MyHeritage also offers a Health subscription that updates your DNA findings to reflect new health reports as they become available.

Question 19

Do the MyHeritage at-home DNA test kits ever go on sale?

Accepted Answer

MyHeritage&rsquo;s at-home DNA tests are [affiliate-link vendor="12306" deeplink-family="ancestry"]frequently available at a discount[/affiliate-link]. You can also always find up-to-date coupon codes for MyHeritage&rsquo;s test kits at DNAWeekly.com.

Question 20

Which is the best DNA test for uncovering your ethnic makeup?

Accepted Answer

A thorough exploration of your ethnic makeup depends upon several factors, including a vendors database size and their testing methodoligies. That being said, you&rsquo;re not like likely to find better ancestry results outside of AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and FamilyTreeDNA.

Question 21

Which is the best DNA test for discovering your family genealogy?

Accepted Answer

When it comes to diving into your family history, DNA-based ancestry results can defintiely give you an added boost. But what really matters, at least if you want the deepest details on more recent generations, is access to historical documents. For this, you should keep MyHeritage and AncestryDNA in mind.

Question 22

Which is the best DNA test for understanding your relatives&rsquo; ancient migrations?

Accepted Answer

Honsetly, there are more than a few vendors that excel in this area. I&rsquo;d recommend 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, and AncestryDNA.

Question 23

Which is the best DNA test for someone who is price-sensitive?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you&rsquo;re in the market for. If you&rsquo;re interested in ancestry insights on a budget, then I&rsquo;d seriously consider MyHeritage, because the quality is top-notch while still being affordable. And the same hold true if you&rsquo;re looking for ancestry and health-related feedback. But if you&rsquo;re looking for cost-effective test results for your diet and fitness needs, then I would go with Vitagen, as they offer one of the affordable products of its kind on the market.

Question 24

Which DNA test is the most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Most DNA tests reliably have more a 99% rate of accuracy or more. This applies to ancestry, health and wellness, and diet and fitness. It&rsquo;s pretty much the same across the board.

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