what does it mean to be proactive about your hereditary health risks?
How to talk to your loved ones for Family Health History Day Joanne Chen is a long-standing health reporter with a master's degree from Columbia University's School of Journalism. His work has appeared in the daily Beast, the New York Times, Time.com, Vogue and other publications. James Lacy, MLS, is a fact checker and researcher. James received a Master in Science from the Library of the Dominican University. FG Trade / Getty Images Key Takeaways For many families this year, Thanksgiving will not be — and should not — the intimate meeting of the intergenerational family that is usually. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is unlikely to prevent grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from connecting with their family through Zoom, FaceTime, antiquated phone texts and calls. In addition to turkey, mashed potatoes and cake, this year health experts also recommend that people share generous help from their health stories with their extended family. The National Day of Family Health falls on the fourth Thursday of November every year. Observance is an opportunity for families to collect information on health conditions and trends within their family tree. Being aware of our family health history can go a long way to help us and our family members remain healthy now and in the future. "It is therefore a powerful tool," says the head of the Social and Port Research Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Verywell. Why record your family's health history? Almost all diseases have a genetic component, which means they "run the family." A genetic disease is determined by hereditary units called genes. Half of our genes are our biological mother and half of our biological father. 99.9% of our genes are the same as those of all, but that important 0.1% contains variations that explain why we look, act and are different from others. These genetic variations could also help explain why different people may have different protections or predispositions to mental and physical diseases. Conditions with a known genetic component include: Genetics is not a destination That being said, genes are not your destiny. Many diseases and conditions can be prevented and their severity decreases by making adjustments to their lifestyle and behavior. Being analyzed to ensure early detection also makes a difference, so it is important to know your family's health history. You can zero in specific strategies to stay healthy and reduce the health risks that are relevant to you and your family. Many of us know about the health of our parents and brothers, and we can have a vague idea about the health of our grandparents, aunts and uncles. There is value in collecting the details and writing them or recording them electronically. The closer you are a relative, the more relevant your health story will be for yours. Your immediate family includes your parents, brothers and grandparents, as well as your aunts and uncles. "The more data you have, the better the risk assessment," Koehly says. For example, if you have a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes, it puts you at greater risk for the condition. However, if you don't have a first-degree relative with the condition, but you have two second-degree relatives with it, you can also increase your risk. "Having extra information beyond the immediate family is important," says Koehly. Risk reduction When you see your mapped family's health information, health conditions, illnesses, and causes of death, you might start to notice patterns. For example, you could learn about new conditions to care for, or notice certain behaviors or problems that continually grow. Gillian Hooker, PhD, president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors We know that when people look for genetic tests and take measures to reduce the risk of cancer, they can save their lives. Knowledge can motivate people to improve their diet or exercise regimen, or schedule pre-current tests for certain diseases, such as breast or colorectal cancer. You can also help them decide if you want. Statistics on how useful a family health history project might be are difficult to achieve. Having said this, the president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors tells Verywell that "We know that when people seek genetic testing and take measures to reduce the risk of cancer, they can save their lives. " Gather your family's health history National Family Health History The day takes place in Thanksgiving because it is a day that families usually meet. While you may not be in the same room as your family this year, you can talk to them by phone, in a call to Zoom, or even send them an email. If you feel as if it were uncomfortable to discuss illness and death with the family on vacation (or at any time of the year for that matter) you are not alone. For some families, conversations between some family members may be tense even without asking questions. Fortunately, experts have some tips on how to effectively take your family's health history. Explain why it's important Understanding the purpose of the project will help motivate family members to contribute and thus appreciate its long-term effects. "It's not just about our own risks, but also our family members," Koehly says. "It is a document for future generations. " Use Online Tools You can simply save a notebook or electronic document of all in your family and your health conditions. You can also test the Center for Disease Control and Prevention tool kit called . The tool guides you through recording information about your own health and the health of your blood relatives. This might include listing their conditions and how many years they were when they were diagnosed. Then you can send the form to your family in private. None of your personal information is stored on the site itself. Gather information from one to one Launching your family health history project doesn't have to be a big announcement at the table. Instead, Hooker says it can be a conversation that has one to one, for example, with an aunt via Skype or on a walk with her grandmother. Make it part of a family history project Even if you are not formally collecting everyone's health history at the table, you can still pay attention to family conversation and collect information. Ask your family about their lives and the lives of your family. Write the information later, so you have a record. "It is the oldest generation that is often the most knowledgeable," Koehly says. "We want to learn from their wisdom before we can no longer hear it from them." I could start with questions like: "How was it when you were young? What did you enjoy doing? As you're having these conversations, ask your family what it was like when your parents got older and if they had any health concerns. "We can find ways to get information about your health through family stories," Koehly says. Give people time Even if you start the project on Family Health History Day, you don't have to finish the project in Thanksgiving. It's a good time to introduce it, and family members can use the days and weeks they follow to collect the information, either with the CDC toolkit or a document you created. Don't get frustrated by what you don't know In some cases, it could be impossible to fill all blank spaces. For example, if your family has members who were adopted, those medical records could be closed. Other members may be separated from the family or die without any registration to pass. Some people choose to investigate public medical reports or take commercial genetic testing. Please note that commercial tests such as 23andMe or AncestryHealth do not cover everything. It's also good to leave things blank. Get everything you can. "When you don't know some information, just add uncertainty," says Hooker. It doesn't mean that what you've collected is not useful. Let people oppose... Or outside You may think you know more about your favorite aunt, but your sister may have information tides, too. We all have our own special relationships with different family members, but they all have the potential to contribute. Hooker points out that "some people are more open to talking and tracking key information." Invite them to help fill the blanks. Others may not, and that's good too. What this means to youRecollecting your family health history can be a challenge, especially with limited holiday meetings this year. Still, it takes time this year, even if it is remote, to collect a family health history and learn about health trends in your immediate and extended family. Be sure to regularly document and update your discoveries. That way, you can use them to reduce the risk of disease for you and your family for years to come. Using your family health history Think of your family health history as a practical tool. Members of your family and you can take the document to your next medical exam and discuss with your provider how you may want to adjust your health habits or schedule your health tests to take into account the highest health risks. You can also do some preventive care on your own by reviewing the National Institute of Human Genome Research page. Here, you can get an idea of your risk of common genetic diseases, as well as tips to reduce your risk. Use your family health history records to discover healthy habits that worked well for your family and try to fit them into your own lifestyle. You can also discover some positive trends in your family health history. For example, you may discover that your ancestors lived well in their nineties or that you are from a family of runners. His portrait of family health as a living document. Get the habit of adding annual information or at any time connecting with loved ones. "Although family health talks can be difficult, when done in the right way, they can be fun and create a family history that includes health information for generations. " Sign up for our newsletter Health Tip of the Day and receive daily advice that will help you live your healthiest life. Thank you, for signing. There was a mistake. Please try again. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). . Updated October 3, 2019.National Institute of Human Genome Research. . Updated 15 July 2011. 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