Gazing into a crystal ball may not predict the future, but knowing your family’s medical history will. Writing down the diseases and health conditions within a family creates a vital record of information for your doctor. Common health conditions such as a cancer, heart disease and diabetes are often hereditary, so awareness of these can help save your life.
Dr. Shawn West, medical director at Premera, shares what’s most valuable to know about your family’s health history and identifies personal risk factors to help you (and your doctor) avoid serious health conditions.
Your health can be a family affair
How far back do you need to know? According to Dr. West, you should know the medical history of your first-degree relatives – mother, father, sister, brother. Ideally, you also want to know the health record of your grandparents, aunts and uncles.
“It’s a conversation that families don’t often take time for, but is incredibly useful,” says Dr. West. “We are seeing that certain cancers—like breast, ovarian, and colon— blood clotting disorders, diabetes, heart disease, and mood disorders, are genetically linked,” he says.
Broaching the topic requires appropriate timing, but a family reunion or holiday get-together is an ideal venue to ask about health history. You can start by explaining the importance of a family medical history in learning whether you and your family are predisposed to certain diseases or conditions.
Offer to make the information available to relatives so that they can share it with their doctors. Also, provide options for asking questions one-on-one rather than at the family table, just in case some relatives are uncomfortable talking about their health. You might want to use an online template to help capture medical histories, such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s “My Family Health Portrait” or Susan G. Komen’s breast cancer history.
Making informed decisions with your doctor
Doctors use your family medical history to provide better care by recommending how you can reduce your risk of developing a disease or prevent it altogether. Give your doctor a copy of your family medical history or submit it with your “intake form” for first-time visits.
Your doctor will assess your overall health and may recommend lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise) or treatments (such as specific medications) to reduce the risk of a condition getting worse.
Dr. West also suggests having a conversation about lifestyle health issues, such as problem drinking, recreational drug use or mood disorders that may be prevalent in your family. Talking with your doctor about the risks will help you make informed decisions about your health.
Take advantage of preventive screenings
With a family medical history profile, your doctor can recommend appropriate preventive screenings. Health conditions common in first-degree relatives and diseases with a genetic predisposition— such as breast or colon cancer—may require additional checkups and tests, West says. For example, if you believe you might benefit from a specific test, such as BRCA for breast cancer, have your doctor review your plan’s medical policy to see if you meet the criteria. In some cases, a doctor may declare certain specific screenings as “medically necessary,” and the cost of those tests may be covered by your health plan.
Your doctor should talk with you about the type and frequency of preventive screenings that are most appropriate. Check your health plan benefits or call your plan’s customer service for costs and coverage of various preventive screenings.
Your family health history gives insight to help you take charge of managing your health. While it may be uncomfortable to ask about what illness your Uncle Joe died from, that information could save your life and the lives of future generations.