Family history is important for your health

Most of us know that we can reduce our risk of disease by eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and not smoking. But did you know that your family history might be one of the strongest influences on your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer?

What is family history?

Family history is a record of the diseases and health conditions in your family. You and your family members share genes. You may also have behaviours in common, such as exercise habits and what you like to eat. You may live in the same area and come into contact with similar things in the environment. Family history includes all of these factors, any of which can affect your health.

Why is it important to know your family medical history?

Most people have a family health history of chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. You may be more likely to develop certain diseases if you have a close family member having that disease, especially if more than one close relative has (or had) the disease or a family member got the disease at a younger age than usual.

A family medical history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. Even though you cannot change your genetic makeup, knowing your family history can help you reduce your risk of developing complications.

A person can take steps to reduce his or her risk after knowing one’s family history. For people at an increased risk of certain cancers, healthcare professionals may recommend more frequent screening (such as mammography or colonoscopy) starting at an earlier age. Healthcare providers may also encourage regular checkups or testing for people with a medical condition that runs in their family.

What is screening?

Screening is the first step to safeguard your health. Early detection and timely interventions allow early treatment and can reduce future complications and treatment cost. A health screening helps you find out if you have a particular disease or condition.

Sometimes, you may not show any signs or symptoms of a disease. Certain chronic diseases such as diabetes take time to develop and if detected early, it can be better managed with fewer complications and improve long-term outcomes. Cancer starts small and by the time a patient feels pain, bloated or an obvious lump, cancer may already be at an advanced stage. A person who exercises regularly and watches his or her diet is more likely to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. However, a disease such as cancer can sometimes be totally unexpected. That is why it is important to get screened even when you feel perfectly healthy.

A health screening will only pick up health conditions that are present at the time of screening. Regular screening helps to detect conditions that may develop after the previous screening. Periodic visits may have other benefits, such as developing the patient-clinician relationships, relieving patients’ "worry," and educating patients about how to access the health care system.

What if you have no family history?

Even if you don’t have a history of a particular health problem in your family, you could still be at risk. This is because of your lifestyle, personal medical history, and other factors influence your chances of getting a disease. Moreover, you may be unaware of disease in some family members or you could have family members who died young, before they had a chance to develop chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer.

Being aware of your family history is an important part of a lifelong wellness plan.

(Information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. National Library of Medicine)

About the author

Dr Ivan Chow is a specialist in Family Medicine. He focuses on continuity of care and mental health. He is a sports lover.