Talking Turkey about Family Health

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Talking Turkey about Family Health

November 25, 2019

It’s no coincidence that Thanksgiving is also National Family Health History Day. Having multiple generations gathered around the table makes it an advantageous day to share stories about family genetics, ancestry and health history.

Depending on your family, this conversation could be a difficult one to start. But it’s worth the time and effort. Knowing your genetic risk factors for disease can help you make informed decisions about your health.

In addition to heritage and genealogy, genetic testing can also give you insight into your susceptibility to disease and even your carrier status for certain diseases. This part of the genomics field, known as disease risk management, is an area that genetic testing companies are increasingly paying attention to.

So what do you do with that information? Well, I’m a strong believer that knowledge is power. The more information you know about your health, the more informed decisions you can make. In fact, studies show it’s possible to facilitate behavior change using genetic testing as the catalyst. If you learn that Mom is diabetic, for example, you may be motivated to make some changes in your diet after the holidays. (After all, you’re going to want to enjoy some pumpkin pie on Thursday.)

Not sure about how to get the dialog going? Here are some conversation starters that may help you unlock new information about your family health history:

·       I’ve decided to find out more about our family genealogy and health. Based on what you know about our family, what do you think I might find out?  

·       Have any of you taken a DNA test? Which one did you take? Did you learn anything interesting or surprising?

·       Did you know your hatred of cilantro may be genetic? Even your weight may be influenced by your genes. What would you most like to learn about yourself through a DNA test?

·       Dad’s unibrow may be genetic! What other family traits do we share?

·       What are you doing to maintain your health this year?

Assembling your family health history can be like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. But once you have a complete picture, you’ll be better positioned to take charge of your health. For more information about conversation starters, and how to act upon the information you learn, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/knowing_not_enough.htm

Happy Thanksgiving!