Experts say it also contains valuable medical information that could one day save your life...
According to Amy Sturm, a genetic counselor at Ohio State, almost every disease has some sort of hereditary or genetic component and says learning about your relatives’ health conditions may alert you to possible inherited diseases or risk factors...
Sturm suggests sharing your family health history with a doctor or genetic counselor...
Many diseases have risk factors that – if you know about them early enough, Sturm says – you can take steps to reduce the risk or lessen the severity...
Medical conditions that run in families include heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and some types of cancer...
When combing through the family medical history, look for a high number of relatives with the same or a related disease...
Sturm says the closer the relative, the higher risk you may be for the same disease or condition...
One of the biggest red flags is an early age of onset...
Sturm says genetic testing can begin with any family member who might have a particular disease...
A blood test will determine if there is a genetic change or mutation that may have predisposed them to that disease...
For more information about risks for cancer and heart disease based on personal and family health history log on to www.familyhealthlink.osumc.edu?
