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The Importance of Gathering Family Health History This Thanksgiving
Discover how to start the conversation this Thanksgiving to learn about your family health history and improve your experience in the ER.
Family history plays a crucial role in medical care. Whenever we visit a healthcare facility, whether it’s for a routine check-up or an emergency room visit, we’re often asked to provide information about any health conditions that may run in our families. While it might not be the first thing on your mind this holiday season, Thanksgiving offers a perfect opportunity to discuss family health history with your relatives.
What is Family Health History?
Family health history refers to a record of chronic conditions and diseases that have affected members of your family. Just as family members share physical characteristics, such as eye and hair color, they may also pass down certain health conditions. Understanding your family’s medical history can help identify potential health risks that may be inherited.
Why is it Important to Know your Family Health History?
Learning and documenting your family health history can significantly enhance the care you receive from your physicians. This information allows for faster diagnoses, tailored testing, screening plans, and an understanding of what to monitor over time. A comprehensive family medical history can provide several benefits, such as:
- Identify whether you have a higher risk for certain diseases
- Help physicians recommend treatments or options to reduce your risk of disease
- Reveal early warning signs of potential health issues
- Assist in planning lifestyle changes that promote better health
Your family’s medical history collected should be as detailed as possible, including information about your first, second, and third-degree relatives. Also, it should include chronic diseases, the age at which relatives were diagnosed, or their age at death if they have passed away, as well as their ethnicity. These details matter because certain patterns in relatives’ medical histories—such as multiple chronic diseases, age of diagnosis, and the number of affected family members—can be key for your physician’s assessment and recommendations.
Questions to Ask Family Members About Health History
The health history of your close relatives can provide valuable insight into your own medical concerns. Here are some important questions to consider asking:
- Do you have any chronic diseases or illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, high cholesterol, or stroke?
- At what age were you diagnosed with this condition?
- What is our family’s ancestry and background?
- What were the causes of death and ages at death for our relatives who have passed away?
Conversations about family health can be challenging, but they offer valuable insights that can benefit your well-being. Thanksgiving offers a great opportunity to begin these discussions, as you’re already spending time with loved ones and making meaningful conversation.
24/7 Medical Care
It’s important to have your health history readily available when you need care—especially in an emergency. At Topeka ER & Hospital, we are committed to providing exceptional medical services for you and your loved ones. Our expert team is here to help you feel better quickly, no matter what symptoms you may be experiencing.
This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to take some time to gather important family health history while enjoying time with your loved ones. Understanding family health history may be extremely beneficial for diagnoses and effective treatment in the emergency room.
Your neighborhood ER & Hospital, Topeka ER & Hospital is open 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays!
Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Topeka ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.