It's good to know what diseases may be in your family. Why? If your relatives had certain conditions, your own risk may be higher. In that case, your doctor may suggest stay-well strategies, like getting health screenings earlier than usual.
GATHER YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
Ask these relatives what conditions they had and when they were diagnosed:
- Parents.
- Siblings and half-siblings.
- Children.
- Grandparents.
- Aunts and uncles.
- Nieces and nephews.
Home for the holidays?
Family gatherings are a great time to ask your relatives about their health history.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Family Health History. The Basics." https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Knowing is Not Enough—Act on Your Family Health History." https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/knowing_not_enough.htm.
Reviewed 10/23/2023