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Health questions to ask your parents

How much do you know about your family history?

While it’s important to know where you come from and who your ancestors are, it’s even more important to understand your family health history.

family health history

What is a family health history?

Your family health history (aka family medical history) is a record of your current and past illnesses and health conditions. It is also a record of your family’s health history which includes your parents, siblings, children and other blood relatives, including grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Why is it important to know your family’s health history?

Knowing your family’s health history is extremely important because some health conditions can be passed down from parent to child. These are called hereditary or familial diseases. These are caused by genetic mutations which can be passed on from your mother or father (or both).

However, if there is a familial disease in your family it doesn’t mean that you will also get it. It just means that if someone in your family who is related by blood has a particular condition, your risk for that condition is also increased.

Your family health history can also show a pattern of certain diseases in the family that are influenced more by environmental, behavioural and lifestyle factors, than genetic factors.

What conditions carry a genetic risk?

Diseases and health conditions that carry a genetic risk are also referred to as conditions that ‘run in the family’. These include:

  • cardiovascular disease (including blood pressure, cholesterol and stroke)
  • type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • some cancers, such as breast/ovarian and colorectal (bowel)
  • urinary incontinence
  • mental illness
  • dementia/Alzheimer’s disease
  • osteoporosis
  • asthma
  • stillbirth or multiple miscarriages
  • birth defects such as spina bifida and cleft lip
  • genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome or haemophilia.

Questions to ask your family

The good news about knowing your family medical history is that you are in a better position to reduce the risk, or delay the development of chronic disease. Here are some questions you may like to ask:

  • What diseases occurred in your family?
  • Who developed them?
  • How old were they when they developed them?
  • What treatment did they need?
  • What was their prognosis?
  • Who hasn’t been affected by these diseases?
  • What ethnicity are your ancestors? (The risk of some health conditions is higher in certain ethnic groups)
  • How old were your ancestors when they died?
  • What did they die from?

You should also provide this information to your doctor as it will help them provide valuable health advice and develop a management program for you (if appropriate) which may include regular health screening and/or taking medication.

What else can you do?

Unfortunately, you can’t change your family medical history or any genetic tendencies that increase your risk for some health conditions. However, family history doesn’t mean you will develop them too.

Family history is just one risk factor to consider when weighing up the likelihood of developing a health condition. The onset of chronic disease can involve many factors, some of which you can control. These include:

  • Smoking — smoking is the single biggest risk factor for many diseases
  • Weight — maintain a healthy weight as being overweight increases your risk of developing several health conditions
  • Exercisethose who exercise regularly reduce their risk of many chronic diseases
  • Diet eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables, and low in saturated fat, salt and sugar can reduce your risk of chronic illness
  • Stress — managing or reducing stress can go a long way towards helping you stay well
  • Alcohol — excessive alcohol consumption raises your risk of developing some health conditions.

It’s also important to understand that some health conditions (which you may be at increased risk of through your family history) can also contribute to the likelihood of you developing other diseases. For example, high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

While family health history is a risk factor for disease, knowing the full story can help you protect your health.

 

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