The Importance of Family Health History
Whenever you visit the office a health professional, there seems to be a never-ending pile of paperwork to fill out … one of the most robust sections in the
What is family health history?
Your family health history is a record of the health conditions that have affected your close family members, such as your parents, siblings, children, and grandparents. It can include information about chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, as well as mental health conditions and birth defects.
Why is family health history important?
Your family health history can give you important clues about your own risk of developing certain diseases and conditions. For example, if you have a close family member with heart disease, you are at an increased risk of developing heart disease yourself.
Knowing your family health history can help you and your doctor make informed decisions about your health care. For example, your doctor may recommend that you start certain screenings or tests earlier than usual, or that you take steps to reduce your risk of developing certain diseases.
How can you learn about your family health history?
The best way to learn about your family health history is to talk to your family members. Ask them about the health conditions that they have been diagnosed with, and the age at which they were diagnosed. If your family members are deceased, you can try to find out about their health history from other relatives, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins.
You can also use online tools to create a family health history. These tools can help you to organize the information you have collected from your family members, and to identify any patterns or trends.
How can a health coach help?
A health coach can help you to learn about your family health history and to understand the implications for your own health. They can also help you to develop a plan to reduce your risk of developing certain diseases and conditions.
Here are some specific ways that a health coach can help you:
Help you to collect your family health history. If you have difficulty talking to your family members about their health, or if you don't know where to start, a health coach can help you to collect this information.
Help you to understand your family health history. Once you have collected your family health history, a health coach can help you to understand what it means for your own health. They can explain your risk factors for certain diseases and conditions, and they can help you to develop a plan to manage your risk.
Help you to make healthy lifestyle changes. If you need to make changes to your lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing certain diseases and conditions, a health coach can help you to do this. They can provide you with support and guidance, and they can help you to set and achieve your goals.
If you're interested in learning more about your family health history and how to reduce your risk of developing certain diseases and conditions, I encourage you to contact me today. I offer a free consultation to all new clients, so that we can discuss your individual needs and goals.
Together, we can develop a plan to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. I'll be there to support you every step of the way.
Contact me today to schedule your free consultation!