What biohacker health risks are waiting for the uninformed?
Biohacking is the activity of modifying, enhancing, maximizing, or upgrading your body or mind through technology. As the cost of equipment like genetic engineering kits continues to decline, it is growing in popularity (1). While biohacking has some undeniable advantages, such as boosting your strength or intelligence, there are also some significant hazards. One of the biggest risks is that, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can wind up hurting yourself.
This is a succinct summary of the dangers associated with several areas of biohacking.
Implantable Devices
The use of implantable devices is one of the main hazards associated with biohacking. Diabetes patients must continuously check their blood sugar levels to make sure they stay within a safe range. This involved drawing a tiny bit of blood, then inserting a test strip into a glucose metre with the blood on it. However, technological developments have resulted in the creation of implanted glucose monitors. The level of sugar in the interstitial fluid is continuously measured by these sensors, which are positioned beneath the skin (2). This eliminates the need for frequent finger pricks and enables persons with diabetes to closely monitor their blood sugar levels.
However, if they are not implanted properly, implantable glucose monitors and other biohacking devices can also lead to issues.
Infections
Although these gadgets have many advantages, there is also a chance of infection (3). Bacteria, which can enter the body through the incision site or the bloodstream, are the most frequent type of infection. Infections can also be brought on by viruses and fungi, but these are less frequent.
Redness, swelling, and soreness at the implant site are signs to look out for. Antibiotics are typically used as a form of treatment, although occasionally it may be necessary to remove the device. It’s crucial to carefully adhere to the aftercare and hygiene guidelines in order to lower the risk of infection. The implant should ideally be placed by a trained specialist.
Implanted gadgets and monitors that track vital signals like stress, blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate can be very beneficial. However, there is a chance that the immune system will reject them. Monitors that are implanted may be attacked by the body, which perceives them as foreign objects. This occasionally causes tissue injury and inflammation. There are a few methods to lower the possibility of rejection. These include of covering the devices with anti-rejection medications and employing inert materials. Even with these safeguards, an implanted monitor still has a potential of being rejected by the body, which can be uncomfortable.
Scar Tissue
Scar tissue may develop around the site of implantation as a result of implanted devices. In some circumstances, the scar tissue might thicken and harden, making it challenging to remove the device in the event that it needs to be changed. In other instances, the scar tissue may prevent the implanted device from working properly, resulting in false readings (4). For these reasons, before deciding to have a monitor implanted, it is crucial to go over the risks of implantation with your doctor.
Privacy
Privacy is a danger associated with implanted monitors (5). These gadgets transmit real-time health information, and while this data can be very helpful for those with long-term illnesses, it also poses serious privacy concerns. Researching the security of these bio hacks is crucial because many of them lack encryption. This exposes data to hackers, and if this data were to end up in the wrong hands, it might be used to target weak points or extort people (6).
The c of modifying genes to alter how the body functions is known as genetic biohacking. This can be done for a variety of purposes, including as enhancing intelligence, enhancing athletic prowess, or changing looks. Genetic biohacking may have advantages, but there are also dangers that need to be taken into account.
Gene Mutations
Due to the availability of DIY kits, the gene-editing technology CRISPR has grown more widely used during the past few years (7). However, using these kits carries the danger that deleterious mutations could be produced using them. Furthermore, it is challenging to predict where the CRISPR changes will occur, which could have unforeseen effects. For instance, a person attempting to change one gene can unintentionally alter another gene close by. Due to the potential for the emergence of brand-new illnesses or disorders, this could have potentially harmful effects. Additionally, it calls into question the morality of changing genes and DNA (8). Therefore, before considering utilizing a DIY CRISPR kit, it is crucial to be informed of the risks involved.
Without a thorough understanding of the procedure, you run the risk of doing irreparable harm to your long-term health if you try to edit your own DNA. However, using CRISPR kits to modify human genes is prohibited (9).
Legal Issues
When engaging in genetic biohacking, there is a chance of breaking the law. This is due to the existence of regulations that forbid or place limitations on the application of specific technologies, including those that could be used for gene editing. For instance, altering the human genome in a heritable manner is prohibited in the United States. Therefore, it would be against the law to try to alter the DNA of future generations.
Modifying an organism’s DNA might be considered a form of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are subject to laws that govern their use. Additionally, it is unlawful to modify your own DNA (10). Therefore, before beginning any genetic biohacking project, it is crucial to be aware of the pertinent legislation. If this isn’t done, there may be fines, jail time, or other legal repercussions.
Because some nootropics are illegal, using them could result in legal action against you. For instance, the use of modafinil to treat ADHD is not authorized (11).
Supplement Overdoses and Reactions
The use of supplements is another well-liked health technique. A healthy diet should include supplements, vitamins, and minerals. It is possible to consume these nutrients in excess, which can result in an overdose. Depending on the nutrient involved, overdose symptoms may vary, but they may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness, and impaired vision (12). An overdose may, in extreme circumstances, result in organ damage or even death.
It’s crucial to take each supplemental nutrient in the authorized dosage solely to avoid these hazards. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, many people believe that more is better, but this isn’t always the case. Before taking any supplements, it’s crucial to be aware of the hazards because too much of a good thing can be harmful.
For instance, the active component of the spice turmeric, curcumin, is known to have blood-thinning properties (13). Other supplements frequently used by biohackers include ginger, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng, all of which can prevent blood from clotting (14). Due to this, these supplements shouldn’t be consumed in big quantities, together, or in any way if you currently take a blood thinner like warfarin.
Additionally, long-term consumption of excessive amounts of curcumin carries the danger of liver damage (15). Avoid making the mistake of assuming that taking more of a supplement would improve its benefits. A modest amount is frequently all that is required to enhance health.
False Information and Quackery
The last danger associated with bio hacking is the prevalence of false information. There are swindlers and quacks who want to sell supplements for a quick cash. The internet is replete with such offensive operators.
Going Forward
This subject is not generically healthy such as our article Benefits of Organic Wheatgrass in the LifeStyle Hacks section of our website. As you have read above, there can be some serious negative consequences to biohacker health if one is uniformed and negligent.
While biohacking can enhance performance, mental clarity, and physical well-being, it is crucial to conduct extensive research using reliable, unbiased sources. Then carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages, risks and benefits. Always seek the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner, if at all feasible.
References
- Top 10 Companies Leveraging Gene Editing in 2018 https://www.genengnews.com/a-lists/top-10-companies-leveraging-gene-editing/
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/11444-glucose-continuous-glucose-monitoring
- Implantable Device Related Infection https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5110396/
- Blocking scar tissue formation around medical device implants https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/blocking-scar-tissue-formation-around-medical-device-implants
- Biohacking: An exploratory study to understand the factors influencing the adoption of embedded technologies within the human body https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7226663/#bib1
- Critical flaw lets hackers control lifesaving devices implanted inside patients https://bit.ly/3reoRDE
- Mail-Order CRISPR Kits Allow Absolutely Anyone to Hack DNA https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mail-order-crispr-kits-allow-absolutely-anyone-to-hack-dna/
- What are the Ethical Concerns of Genome Editing? https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing/ethical-concerns
- Is it time to regulate biohacking? California thinks so. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/8/13/20802059/california-crispr-biohacking-illegal-josiah-zayner
- Focus On: Biohacking https://www.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/focus-on-biohacking
- Modafinil https://www.additudemag.com/medication/modafinil/
- Multiple vitamin overdose https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/multiple-vitamin-overdose
- Anticoagulant activities of curcumin and its derivative https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22531131/
- Anticoagulant activity of select dietary supplements https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Young-9/publication/221801456_Anticoagulant_activity_of_select_dietary_supplements/links/5b0578700f7e9b1ed7e812bb/Anticoagulant-activity-of-select-dietary-supplements.pdf
- Overdose Intake of Curcumin Initiates the Unbalanced State of Bodies https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26978516/