What Your Family’s Health History Can Reveal About Your Own Health

The winter holidays and festivities are in full swing once again.

Though my husband and I don’t live near our immediate families, we’ve always gathered with our close friends and chosen family to celebrate the season. This year at the Thanksgiving table, we had friends from Lebanon, Italy, West Africa and Switzerland, each bringing dishes representing their own interpretation of “American staples.” What I love most about these holiday gatherings is how people from so many different backgrounds with unique journeys all end up at the same table.

Our varied backgrounds – from our social and environmental conditions to our family history and genetics – can greatly impact our health outcomes. This holiday season, as we cherish and recall how loved ones near or far have shaped our lives, it’s also important to remember the way that family health history can shape your future. Knowing your family health history is an important step to engaging in lifestyle changes, care or treatment that can help prevent or manage life-altering diseases and conditions.

This holiday season, take the time to look deeper into what your family’s health might mean about your own risks and predispositions.

What Family Health History Can Tell You

Knowing your family health history can help you evaluate risks for a variety of conditions and chronic diseases. For instance, did you know that whether your parents or siblings had a heart attack before they were 50 years old, could impact your own risks? Research shows that you have a higher risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke. Another example is that people have a 60-75% higher risk of future cardiovascular disease if their parents have premature cardiovascular disease. Studies also reveal that if even one parent has had a stroke, their son’s chance of a stroke doubles , and the risk increases for daughters as well. People are known to have a higher risk of stroke if they have a family history of stroke prior to 65 .

Some diseases depend on your DNA with genetic components being directly passed down from your parents. A genetic mutation passed down within families is responsible for a type of high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition that is associated with higher risk of heart attack and cardiovascular episodes. Early diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesteremia can lead to an 80% lower risk of coronary heart disease. Knowing what cardiovascular episodes your family members have experienced, and at what age, can help you be prepared for your own cardiovascular risks or treat a condition like familial hypercholesterolemia.

My own father had early-onset cardiovascular disease, experiencing his first of four heart attacks at just age 38. Though he did not have a known genetic disorder, I still know that I should be careful about managing my heart health based on his cardiovascular problems and my history of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that increases risk for future cardiovascular disease .

Certain mental and behavioral health conditions can also be passed down genetically. Autism, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD are some disorders that are more common within family histories . Substance abuse can also be influenced by family history. There is approximately 60% hereditability for alcohol use disorder, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism .

Genetic Testing and Counseling

Genetic testing and genetic counseling resources can give you a closer look at your risk profile for certain diseases. Genetic testing identifies changes in your genes that can lead to cancers or other conditions, and is often useful for detecting diseases before symptoms emerge or for learning the chances of passing on conditions to future children. Though genetic testing is a great resource for all patients, it can be difficult to access. A study found that providers were 16 times less likely to discuss genetic testing with Black women and two times less likely to discuss it with Spanish-speaking Hispanic women, as compared to non-Hispanic white women. Your health plan may cover genetic testing services, so if you’re interested in the possibility of genetic testing based on your family’s health history, be sure to bring this up in discussions with your primary care doctor.

At Aetna, a CVS Health company, all members can access genetic counseling in-person, virtually or telephonically for plans that include coverage. We also launched the Guided Genetic Health (GGH) solution in 2021 to offer consumers a convenient, private and clinically-guided approach to understanding the role genetics plays in holistic health. Available to certain members and programs, GGH provides access to education, counseling and clinical-grade testing to help members make informed decisions about their health and family planning experience.

What to Ask

When keeping track of your family health history, it’s important to look at your whole family tree. You should also try to ascertain the health history of your grandparents, aunts or uncles, cousins, and any nieces or nephews. It’s important to note not just what diseases or disorders they had, but also at what age they had major health events or diagnoses. This is important because it can guide when you should begin preventive tests and services.

If you can’t readily access your family health history due to adoption or other factors, sometimes public records can reveal information about your birth family’s medical background. In some states, you may be able to request that your birth parents’ health records be released. It can be difficult and emotionally taxing to track down this information, so some people opt to use genetic testing to learn about their risks instead.

Genetics & Inherited Habits

Though genetics are one way that your family’s health can influence your own, there are many means other than genetics – such as health habits related to eating and exercise, smoking and alcohol use – through which your family can influence your overall health. Adoption studies show that despite the strength of genetic factors in health conditions like childhood obesity, correlations were found from environmental factors as well. Though inherited habits can be difficult to change, you can reduce your risk for a variety of health problems and chronic conditions by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding drinking heavily, quitting smoking and getting sufficient rest.

Our total health is a combination of genetic, non-genetic and environmental factors. Not every health condition is genetic, and not everyone with a genetic mutation will develop a disease. Since our health picture is never fully predetermined, lifestyles changes regarding diet, exercise and screening are vital for prevention.

Knowledge is Power

While knowing your family health history isn’t a perfect crystal ball into your future, it does give you important clues so that you can better engage in preventive care or make lifestyle changes to lower your risks.

It’s important to remember that your overall health picture is not definitive or final. Just because a family member suffers from a health condition does not always mean you will, too. There are other environmental factors and lifestyle choices that contribute to your health. Be sure to share your family health information with your doctor so they have a full understanding of your risks and can help you manage your own health accordingly.