Family Tree is Important to Personal Health
Think of the things that make and keep you healthy. Chances are, you thought of eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, anfd avoiding tobacco and excess alcohol. But we ask, have you thought about your family tree?
A recent survey found that 96 percent of Americans believe that knowing their family history is important. Yet, the same survey found that only one-third of Americans have ever tried to gather and write down their family’s health history.
A family health history helps identify people at increased risk for these problems because it reflects both a person’s genes and other shared risk factors like environment, lifestyles and habits. Knowing your family health history can help your health care provider predict your risk for developing diseases and recommend changes to lower your risk.
Another healthy change you can make is to participate in screening tests, such as mammograms, prostate cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening. Screening tests are helpful for early detection of disease and can also detect risk factors like high cholesterol and blood pressure. If you have a family history of a chronic disease, you may benefit the most from screening tests. Finding risk factors and disease early, before symptoms appear, can mean better health in the long run.
What parts of your family health history are important to collect? Keep records of diseases that occur at an earlier age than expected, or that affect more than one close relative. Know if certain diseases occur together in your family, such as breast and ovarian cancers, or heart disease and diabetes.
Having a family member with a disease suggests that you may have a higher chance of developing that disease, but it does not mean that you will definitely develop the disease. Genes are just one factor that contributes to disease. Other factors include lifestyle habits, such as diet and physical activity, and screening tests to detect disease.
Share family history with your siblings and children so they can benefit from having a family health history, too. Keep it updated, and share any new health information.
Write a Comment