346 | id == 346
346 | category_id == 21
346 | category_order == 18
346 | category_name == Anxiety
346 | category_color == #C47AC0
346 | slug == HTR2A-Anxiety
346 | title == Is This Gene Responsible For Your Feelings Of Panic? (HTR2A)
346 | meta_description == HTR2A gene variants may be affecting your anxiety levels. Read on to find out more!
346 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>HTR2A</em> variants may influence your anxiety levels. Read on to find out the impact these variants may be having on you and what you can do to reduce it!</strong></p>
346 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Score (based on the HTR2A gene)
346 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/HTR2A-Anxiety.jpg
346 | author_id == 13
346 | author_name == Lewis Cuthbertson
346 | author_title == PhD
346 | author_order == 12
346 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Lewis_SelfDecode.jpg
346 | author_intro == <p><strong>Lewis completed his PhD in Molecular Microbiology at Northumbria University (UK).</strong></p>    <p>Lewis spent several years researching the biodiversity of bacterial communities in the Arctic and Antarctic, whilst also performing research for a DNA sequencing service, where he was involved in several health based microbiome studies. This gave him an insight into how the highly diverse and invisible to the naked eye portion of human health, can potentially impact an individual&rsquo;s quality of life, driving his desire to help others understand their own complex health needs through the most current scientific research.<br />  &nbsp;</p>
346 | reviewer == None
346 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
346 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
346 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
346 | publish_date == 2020
346 | publish_date == 9
346 | publish_date == 24
346 | avg_rating == 5.0
346 | tags_id == 112
346 | tags_name == Anxiety
346 | tags_id == 159
346 | tags_name == BDNF
346 | tags_id == 416
346 | tags_name == Cortisol
346 | tags_id == 415
346 | tags_name == HPA axis
346 | tags_id == 672
346 | tags_name == HTR2A gene
346 | tags_id == 713
346 | tags_name == Panic Disorder
346 | tags_id == 50
346 | tags_name == Stress
346 | permissions_favorite == False
346 | permissions_rate == False
346 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summary</span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-serotonin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> receptor. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> play a role in anxiety by activating these receptors, which may increase your </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels. Lifestyle, diet and supplement modifications can counteract the effects of these variants by lowering cortisol levels.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and Anxiety</span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/htr2a/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A) gene encodes a serotonin receptor, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/5ht2a-receptors-a-root-cause-of-anxiety-fatigue-sleep-problems-and-cirs/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5-HT2A</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Researchers believe that increased activation of these receptors can raise your risk of anxiety. Genetic variants of the HTR2A gene are associated with anxiety and panic disorder; these variants likely increase 5-HT2A activation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30360947/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26390831/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One thing that activates 5-HT2A receptors is stress. 5-HT2A activation reduces the amount of </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/boost-plasticity-with-the-bdnf-gene-50"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the hippocampus. BDNF in the hippocampus is partially responsible for controlling the </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/reasons-cortisol-low-high/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HPA axis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is the body&rsquo;s </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/factors-counteract-stress-response/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> system [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10076858"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2637449/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The HPA axis causes the body to release cortisol in response to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. When enough cortisol has been released, the hippocampus senses this and stops its release. However decreased BDNF levels may cause hippocampal damage which can lead to HPA axis dysregulation.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HPA axis dysregulation stops the brain sensing when enough cortisol has been produced, leading to cortisol buildup, this may damage the brain and even further reduce BDNF levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7891134/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22522470/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cortisol is often seen to be increased in individuals suffering stress-induced anxiety. </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> also increases 5-HT2A receptors, contributing even further to reduced BDNF levels. So effectively, several factors lead to an unregulated increase in cortisol, leading to a sustained anxious/panicked state. To summarise, stress increases cortisol and 5-HT2A levels, both of which decrease BDNF. Reduced BDNF causes HPA axis dysregulation, which prevents the brain from reducing cortisol levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2637449/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11005547/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/340/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variants of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene have also been linked to a host of additional health risks including </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/htr2a-serotonin-adhd-318/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ADHD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headaches</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/htr2a-serotonin-pain-304/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic </span></a><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pain-management/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/5ht2a-receptors-a-root-cause-of-anxiety-fatigue-sleep-problems-and-cirs/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Read this post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to learn more about the 5-HT2A receptor roles in mental health, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-sleep/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, cognition, and more.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Results for Anxiety</span></h2> <h3 style="text-align: justify;">*9203036454575866*</h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Table and Summary</span></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>[</strong><strong><em>HTR2A</em></strong><strong>] </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs6313/"><strong>rs6313</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with an increased risk of anxiety and panic disorder [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26390831/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with anxiety or panic disorder</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*1005232120942500*</strong></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Relieve Anxiety</span></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*2228319211679164*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A large body of evidence supports the benefits of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in reducing anxiety [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26228429"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3111147/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.109.3.924-930"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19341989"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specifically, 8 weeks of yoga was shown to reduce cortisol levels and self reported anxiety amongst a host of other health benefits in one trial [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27794449/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weight Loss</span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress and obesity are closely related, and obese people tend to have altered cortisol metabolism. </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ways-to-lose-weight-fast/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> caused by caloric restriction may improve anxiety and mood in aging overweight people [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11054598/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24097021/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627283/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25001959/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probiotics</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variants of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene may impair BDNF levels in the brain, causing an increase in cortisol and anxiety as a result.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The combination of </span><a href="http://content.selfdecode.com/blog/b-longum/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bifidobacterium</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">longum</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/l-helveticus/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lactobacillus helveticus</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">taken daily for 30 days decreased anxiety, hostility, and levels of the stress-related hormone</span> <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in healthy volunteers [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21983070/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa Monnieri</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplementation with </span><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/blog/bacopa-monnieri-4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">for 12 weeks reduced anxiety in a preliminary human study [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11498727"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><em>Bacopa monnieri</em> supplementation also reduced cortisol levels and overall stress in another study [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23788517">R</a>].</p>
346 | content_snp_table_9203036454575866_key == 9203036454575866
346 | content_snp_table_9203036454575866_blur == True
346 | content_snp_table_9203036454575866_hidden == False
346 | content_learn_more_1005232120942500_key == 1005232120942500
346 | content_learn_more_1005232120942500_blur == True
346 | content_learn_more_1005232120942500_hidden == False
346 | content_learn_more_1005232120942500_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your HTR2A gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop anxiety. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk; it’s just one gene related to it. Keep scrolling to find out more.
346 | content_recommendation_2228319211679164_key == 2228319211679164
346 | content_recommendation_2228319211679164_blur == True
346 | content_recommendation_2228319211679164_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs6313
rsStatus = rs6313,HTR2A,chr13,46895805,G,A,C,,25,0,Normal
