Family gatherings are often a great opportunity to make and share memories, but these gatherings can also be used as a way to learn more about your ancestors and help you and your family become healthier. , it’s also an opportunity to share your family’s health history.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most of us have a family history of at least one chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, which makes us more likely to get it. . Medical experts agree that having a chronic disease in your family history doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it, but knowing it can help you take steps to reduce your risk. .
“When it comes to health, knowledge is power,” said Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross. “Knowing your family’s health history and sharing that history with your doctor can be a powerful tool to prevent or minimize chronic health problems.”
Compiling your family’s health history involves more than just making a list of your family’s known illnesses and health conditions. Families can also discuss:
- Common patterns in eating and exercise habits.
- the prevalence of potentially addictive behaviors such as smoking and drug and alcohol use;
- Common features in the environment (such as whether you live in the same area that may expose you to common risks).
To help families talk, the U.S. Surgeon General suggests: It’s an online tool called “My Family Health Portrait.” This free resource helps you collect your family’s health history and easily share it with family and doctors.
Some families may feel uncomfortable discussing personal health issues. To help start the discussion, the CDC recommends ways to broach this topic.
- Inform your family of any newly diagnosed medical conditions. By sharing themselves, they may open up about their health issues.
- If you have had a genetic test, share your results with your family.
- If you are an older member of your family, you may know more about family members’ illnesses and health conditions, especially those of deceased relatives. Please share that history.
Dr. Wigginton suggests that families should also be open to discussing mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, that may run in the family.
“Mental health can be a difficult topic for people to talk about, but it’s an important topic for families,” he said. “Openly sharing mental health issues not only helps loved ones understand each other better, but also allows them to form closer relationships as a source of support and guidance for each other. ”
For more health and wellness news and information, visit:thinkcapitalbluecross.com.
This health article is sponsored and produced by Capital Blue Cross.
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