During your next visit, your doctor may ask you about your family’s health history. This is a very important question because knowing your family members’ medical histories can help your doctor keep you healthy. Let’s look at why this is so important.
What Information is in Your “Family Health History”?
When asking you about your family’s medical history, your doctor probably wants to learn about the illnesses and medical conditions of your close relatives.
Close Relatives are People Like Your:
- Children
- Parents
- Brothers and Sisters
- Grandparents
- Aunts and Uncles
- Cousins
- Great Aunts and Uncles
Doctors often Request Information about Health Conditions Like:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis or other Autoimmune Diseases
Including Mental Health Conditions Like:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Dementia
How Do Doctors Use This Information?
Your doctor uses this information to:
- Understand what health problems you are more likely to develop and
- To create a plan to keep you as healthy as possible.
How Does This Information Help?
Your family health history can guide your doctor in the following ways:
- Prevention: If your doctor knows your family health history, he or she can help you take steps to prevent certain diseases. For example, if your grandmother and father have diabetes, your doctor might suggest ways to eat healthier and stay active to lower your chances of developing diabetes.
- Early Detection: Some illnesses are easier to treat if they’re caught early. If your family has a history of a certain type of cancer, like colorectal cancer, you might get screened for it more often. Early detection can make a huge difference in how well you can fight the disease.
- “Personalized” or “Targeted” Health Care: Doctors can give you advice and treatment that’s tailored to your specific health needs. For instance, they might avoid medicines that didn’t work well for your relatives and try ones that did. This can make your health care more effective and precise.
We face higher rates of certain health problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. There may be a few reasons for this, including our genetic makeup, lifestyle factors, and even our access to healthcare. Here’s why knowing your family health history is particularly crucial.
Why is this is Important in Our Community?
- Genetic Factors: Some health issues are more common in the Black community due to genetics. For example, sickle cell anemia is a genetic condition that predominantly affects Black people. Knowing if it runs in your family can help doctors provide better care.
- Health Disparities: Black people often experience unequal treatment by doctors and the healthcare system, meaning we might not receive the same quality of care as members of other races. By learning and sharing your family health history, you can advocate for yourself and ensure you get the screenings and treatments you need.
- Empowerment: Knowledge is power! A study showed that Black people with a family history of a disease had a better understanding of risk factors, were more likely to report that worrying about the disease affected their eating and exercise habits, and were much more active than those without a family history of a disease. Understanding your family health history can empower you to make better decisions about your lifestyle, diet, and even your choice of doctor.
How to Collect Your Family Health History?
- Talk with Your Relatives: Have conversations with your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even great aunts and uncles. Ask about any major conditions or illnesses they’ve had, when they were diagnosed, and any treatments they had.
- Write it Down: Keep a record of what you learn. You can use a notebook, an app, or even a create document on your computer or phone. Make sure to update it whenever you get new information.
- Share with Your Doctor: Bring your family health history to your medical appointments. Your doctor will appreciate having this information and can use it to provide better care.
Take Action!
Start a family team effort. Share what you have learned about the importance of knowing your family’s health history. Talking with family provides an important tool in the prevention of diseases and enables doctors to provide better care. Start those conversations today! Health knowledge is a superpower!
Sources:
Berg, S. (2023). What doctors wish patients knew about their family health history. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-their-family-health-history.
Lin, J., Marcum, C. S., Myers, M. F., & Koehly, L. M. (2018). Racial differences in family health history knowledge of type 2 diabetes: exploring the role of interpersonal mechanisms. Translational behavioral medicine, 8(4), 540–549. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibx062.
Omolafe, A., Mouttapa, M., McMahan, S., & Tanjasiri, S. P. (2010). We are family: family history of diabetes among African Americans and its association to perceived severity, knowledge of risk factors, and physical activity levels. California Journal of Health Promotion, 8(1), 88-97.