Genome researchers are discovering new ways to predict health risks based upon a person's underlying genome information. Our most powerful tool, however, has been around for a long time – family health history. Family health history (FHH) is the collection of information about health conditions that affect members of your family.
Within families, blood relatives share similar environments, lifestyles and genetic backgrounds. As a result, FHH reflects the complex combination of all these factors on an individual's risk to develop health conditions. In fact, FHH is the most powerful medical tool available for identifying individuals at increased risk for common, complex diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and others.
For instance, research has shown that people who have a sibling or parent with type 2 diabetes have more than double the risk of getting the disease themselves. For coronary artery disease, your risk doubles when even just a second-degree relative—an uncle or grandparent—has the condition and, in the case of many cancers such as colon, breast or prostate cancer, having one affected sibling or parent almost doubles your risk.
Although most individuals believe that knowing their family history is important to their personal health, the majority never collect, record, or share this information.
To encourage this process, the Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy and LIVE FOR LIFE have teamed up in to increase awareness of family history. Through a grant from the Genetic Alliance, we are providing booklets about family health history to Duke employees. The set of two booklets, called "Does It Run in the Family?" were originally created by the Genetic Alliance through the Community Centered Family Health History project. Based on feedback from Duke employees, the IGSP/LFL team has customized the booklets to reflect the unique community here at Duke.
That being said, anyone should feel free to use the booklets and share them with their family members and friends.
It is important to share your FHH with your healthcare providers. If you are at higher risk for disease, then you can work together to plan healthy steps, including lifestyle changes, regular health screenings or testing and early treatment if appropriate. Visit LIVE FOR LIFE to learn about free employee programs to help you manage your health risks.
Family Health History (FHH) has become a nationwide health priority. The Department of Health & Human Services has launched a Family History Initiative and the US Surgeon General has declared that Thanksgiving Day also be known as National Family History Day. The free, online tool, My Family Health Portrait, was created to help people collect and store their family information. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has created a Family History topic page with multiple web links to information about family history with resources for the public and health professionals.