You may take steps for a healthier lifestyle, such as eating right and exercising daily. However, if you don’t know your family’s medical history, you may be missing important information that could reduce your risk for some serious conditions. When you have the facts about your genetic makeup, you can use those facts to create a plan for prevention, screenings and early detection of a wide range of diseases. Somerset Woods Nursing Center has the facts about why you need a family medical history and how to compile one to benefit everyone in your clan.
How to Compile a Family History
The best family medical history will span generations to identify potential diseases that run in the family and conditions that might be particularly problematic due to a record of diagnosing them at younger ages. The best opportunity to collect this information might be at a family gathering over the holidays. Create a chart of family members that you can complete with diagnosed medical conditions, age at diagnosis and lifestyle habits that might have contributed to the condition.
You should also include family members that died, age at death and cause of death. Note conditions that were diagnosed at an early age, as this can often increase the risk of that condition in other family members.
Diseases to Note
Some of the conditions to be sure to include in your family history might be:
- Colorectal Cancer
- Breast or Ovarian Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
Diagnosis of these conditions before the age of 50 or in multiple family members might lead to earlier screenings, medications or genetic counseling for others in the family. Make sure your doctors have this information so they can oversee your medical care accordingly.
Somerset Woods Nursing is considered one of the best nursing home in Somerset, NJ. Find out more about our services, by contacting our staff today.
