It is hard to believe 2011 has come and gone and we will ring in 2012 in just a few short hours. I hope you were successful on all those New Year’s resolutions you made last year!
As you begin to look toward 2012 one New Year’s goal I suggest you add to your list is the gathering and sharing of your family history. This is not only good information, but it can be a great health resource for you and your physician.
By having a good family history a physician can look for potential risks and provide you with information and lifestyle changes that could reduce the risk. Having the information will allow your physician to determine which test or screenings might be beneficial to you.
Why is a family history important?
Family members share many things, among them:
- Genes
- Behaviors
- Lifestyles
- Environments
All of which are indicators as to potential health risks. Most families have a history of chronic health issues such as:
Or families can pass along more mild health concerns such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
If your family has a history of a chronic disease, the likelihood of developing that disease becomes much greater.
Who to include
When gathering a family history the most important members to reach out to include:
- Parents
- Brothers
- Sisters
- Children
This group should be followed by:
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Nieces and nephews
What questions to ask?
This is where things become important. You need to dig deep and gather as much information as possible. While you may think you “know it all” there could be a health issue lurking from the past.
The following is a partial list, but I think you’ll get the idea.
- Do you suffer from any chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes or have you been diagnosed with cancer?
- What about other health concerns like high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
- Have you ever suffered a stroke?
- What age where you when any of these issues surfaced?
It’s also a good idea to gather information about relatives in the family, both alive and deceased; the following information can also shed light on potential health concerns.
- What is our/your family’s ancestry? Were they born outside of the United States?
- What diseases, if any, did deceased relatives battle?
- How old were they when they died?
- What was the cause of their death?
Write down all this information and share it with your physician. Keep it in a safe location and update it from time to time. Not only will it benefit you, but it will be a wonderful gift to your children and to the generations that follow.
