Why Knowing Medical History?
There are various compelling reasons for families to communicate their medical histories. Some diseases, for example, run in families. Diabetes, heart disease, several malignancies, and arthritis are among them. In addition, high blood pressure, stroke, and life expectancy are all affected by genetic factors. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a condition just because you have a genetic susceptibility to it. However, knowing which diseases your relatives have can encourage you to seek preventive care and early screenings.
A family medical history might also assist your doctor in providing you with the appropriate preventative care and being able to keep track of your parent’s illnesses. List medical ailments, age upon diagnosis, and anything else that comes to mind next to each name. Ask each of them about their medical backgrounds to fill in any gaps in their knowledge.
Prepare a list of questions. If discussing your ancestors’ medical histories makes you uneasy, prepare some questions to start the conversation. Make a careful record of common health disorders, life expectancies, and family members who have suffered from specific diseases. Organize it so that it is understandable to family members and easy to communicate to healthcare providers. You can create a hand-held binder with documents and information that is quickly accessible. You can keep copies of records in the binder and distribute them to family members. Keeping track of your family’s history is an excellent place to start. Remember that compiling your family’s medical history is a continual process, not a one-time event. Furthermore, the information is only helpful if you know how to use it. Because some family members may not review the family history regularly, another family member can inform everyone about a new diagnosis, hospitalization, or screening result.
Family members should also keep doctors informed about their medical history. It will assist each family member in preparing for a medical appointment. By obtaining information from their medical history and bringing their concerns to the attention of their doctor. Even if you don’t know all of the facts, volunteering any information can help with screening decisions and diagnosis.
