{"id":7729,"date":"2019-11-19T08:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T14:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=7729"},"modified":"2022-02-12T14:32:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-12T20:32:10","slug":"knowing-your-familys-health-history-is-important-for-your-future-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/knowing-your-familys-health-history-is-important-for-your-future-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Knowing your family’s health history is important for your future care"},"content":{"rendered":"

A family health history helps physicians and other health care professionals provide better care for their patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe inherit our genes from our parents. For example, physical body appearance or if there are any risks for certain medical conditions or illnesses,\u201d said Kashif Zaheer, MD<\/a>, a family medicine specialist at OSF Medical Group \u2013 Primary Care<\/a> in Belvidere, Illinois.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a complete family health history helps physicians find any patterns of certain medical conditions in a patient\u2019s family. It helps in the management of the patient\u2019s own health, including identifying what preventive care and screenings may be necessary,\u201d Dr. Zaheer said.<\/p>\n

General background<\/h2>\n

In general, the history should include incidents of chronic diseases \u2013 such as heart disease<\/a>, stroke<\/a>, cancer<\/a>, mental health issues<\/a> and alcoholism<\/a> or other substance abuse<\/a> \u2013 for first-, second- and third-degree relatives. The age of death for all relatives and the family\u2019s ethnicity \u2013 or ethnicities \u2013 also should be included. In addition, the history should include more specific information about the patient, such as their illnesses, chronic conditions, medications, supplement use, past surgeries and treatments, pregnancies, miscarriages, stillbirths, birth defects and fertility issues.<\/p>\n

Dr. Zaheer also believes in delving a little deeper into genetic, environmental or social factors that may impact a patient\u2019s health care needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to knowing the medical background, it\u2019s important to have as complete of information as possible about both of your parents, including if they have immigrated from a certain country or region,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

How a doctor uses the information<\/h2>\n

\u201cHaving this history helps us, as providers, identify, understand and educate a patient about their higher risk for certain conditions and develop a plan to help reduce or modify the risk,\u201d Dr. Zaheer said. \u201cA family health history can help provide early warning signs of disease and direct us in prescribing more frequent or earlier screenings, such as mammographies<\/a> or colonoscopies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can help them understand why we encourage regular checkups or testing if they have a medical condition that runs in their family,\u201d he said. \u201cWe also can use the history in recommending lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthier diet, getting regular exercise and quitting smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take advantage of time together<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe best way to gather family history information is during shared holidays or reunions,\u201d Dr. Zaheer said. \u201cShare your purpose with your family members. Have a dialogue so they understand it\u2019s not about predicting the future of their health, but is used to help identify the risk for certain health problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are adopted, Dr. Zaheer suggests asking your adoptive parents if they have any information about your biological parents that they can share with you.<\/p>\n

Online tools<\/h2>\n
\n

Learn if you\u2019re at risk<\/p>\n

Take a health risk assessment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A number of online tools and questionnaires from trusted sources can help assist you in collecting your family health history, Dr. Zaheer said.<\/p>\n

“My Family Health Portrait<\/a>” a tool from the Surgeon General and hosted on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allows you to enter your family health history, learn about your risk for conditions that can run in families and print out your history to share with your doctor.<\/p>\n

The American Medical Association<\/a> (AMA) has questionnaires and other resources to help you in collecting, creating and understanding the importance of knowing your family health history.<\/p>\n

Keep your info up-to-date<\/h2>\n

\u201cYour personal health information needs to be up-to-date and you need to share any changes with your primary care provider,\u201d Dr. Zaheer said.<\/p>\n

If you are in need of a primary care provider, visit the OSF HealthCare online directory<\/a> to find one near you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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