National Family Health History Day has been recognized since 2004 during the month of November and is sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services. It is celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, and over this holiday when families gather, they are encouraged to discuss and record the health problems that run in their family.
This year, we would like to remind you to take some time to write down your personal medical history, as well as that of your family members. This information can help doctors make better decisions about how to treat you and keep you healthy now and in the future.
If you have chronic conditions that run in your family, it's important to discuss the family's health history, especially if there were family members who died before the conditions became evident.
The most common conditions that run in families are heart disease, diabetes, and cancer (including colon, stomach, endometrium, lung, bladder, breast, and skin) as well as high blood pressure.
Research shows that someone’s lifespan is mainly determined by a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
Family time is special and Thanksgiving is one of the most wonderful days of the year simply because everyone comes together to share a meal, watch a game, and rehash old family stories. But this year on Thanksgiving, also known as National Family Health History Day, spend some time educating each other. Young people often don't realize how important it is to know about hereditary factors that could cause trouble down the road when they marry or have children. This year, in between the pecan pie and kickoff, have a serious discussion about your family health history.
Grab some colored pens and have poster board ready. This is a great day to put together a genealogy tree that adds information about the family's health history. Get the elders to provide as much knowledge as they can.
Do it "old school" and put everything in a binder. Make colorful copies and distribute to everyone so all the information is accessible and easy to read for family members as well as health care providers.
On Thanksgiving, ask every family member (even the little ones) to write down whatever questions or concerns they have about the family's health history. You would be surprised at how curious children are about family history. On National Family Health History Day, take the questions out and start discussing.