Did you know that talking about your family health history could be one of the most important traditions you make with your family? Health problems that tend to run in families can increase your chance of developing them, as families share their genetics, environment, and habits. These can be passed down in families and affect your health. By knowing your past you can make choices to protect your future.
Many health problems can run in families. Some common health problems that have a genetic component and can run in families include:
- Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Asthma
- Birth defects, newborn screening disorders, and developmental disabilities
- Cancers (such as breast, colon, lung, prostate, ovarian, and others)
- Diabetes
- Heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
- Mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
Family gatherings, like holidays and family reunions, are great times to talk about your family health history. Start by talking to close family members, such as parents, siblings, and children, and then move on to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Here are 4 things to ask about to collect your family health history:
- Health problems they have had.
- The age when their problem started or was diagnosed.
- The age and cause of death for family members who have died.
- Their lifestyle habits, such as smoking, diet, weight, and exercise.
Share what you learned with your doctor. A doctor can help you understand your risk for a health problem that may run in your family. They can also help you make choices about what screenings or tests you might need to detect problems early when they are most treatable. Together, you can make a plan to lower your risk of diseases that may run in your family.
You may have an increased risk of getting a health problem if your family has:
- Health problems that occur at an earlier age than expected (10 to 20 years before most people get the problem).
- The same health problem in more than one close family member.
- A health problem that does not usually affect a certain gender (for example, breast cancer in a male family member).
- Certain combinations of health problems within a family (for example, breast and ovarian cancer or heart disease and diabetes).
Remember, not all health problems run in families. Make healthy choices and stay caught up on recommended health screenings no matter what your family health history is.
National Family Health History Day is observed every year on Thanksgiving. This day encourages families to gather and discuss their health histories, with the goal of identifying potential health risks and taking preventive measures. Knowing your family health history can help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being.
Fun and easy ideas to make family health history a tradition this Thanksgiving
- Instead of using a tablecloth, use sheets of butcher paper to cover the table and put crayons out for everyone to color with. Draw your family tree (sometimes called a family pedigree chart). Then, write down what you know about your family health history on the paper and then share what you wrote.
- Have a recipe contest to turn family recipes into healthy treats and use this activity to share stories about your family, including your family health history.
- Many traits like eye color, freckles, dimples, curly hair, or being a “super taster” can have genetic components and run in families. Draw a family tree and write down who has which of these common features. This helps your family start talking and makes it easier to then ask about health conditions that might run in your family.
- Use the family activities from the Genetic Science Learning Center like the Handy Family Tree activity or Traits and Traditions activity to help you learn about inherited traits. These activities work really well for younger kids!
- Another fun activity to get your family talking about inherited traits is to find out who is a PTC “super taster.” PTC is a chemical that tastes bitter for people who inherit a specific gene. People with the PTC gene often say vegetables in the cabbage family, like broccoli, taste bitter. You can order PTC paper online to see who in your family is a “super taster.”
Links to websites or resources
CDC Family Health History: https://www.cdc.gov/family-health-history/index.html
Genetic Science Learning Center: https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/history/
What’s your family health history story? An easy to use guide for creating your family health history: https://teach.genetics.utah.edu/content/familyhistory/Whats-Your-Story.pdf
Traits activities are easy, fun activities to help you learn about inherited traits and how diseases can run in families: https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/activities/
