If you’re looking to spark healthier table conversations at family gatherings, consider turning the talk to just that — health. Family get-togethers are a great opportunity to share information about medical issues among close relatives. What you learn could be vital to a healthy future for all.
“Having those conversations, whether it’s done in person or done virtually, is really important because we know major chronic diseases are such a burden in our country. Heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD, mental health issues, arthritis, cancer — these often have aspects of family history and genetics,” Kyu Rhee, M.D., senior vice president at CVS Health and chief medical officer at Aetna, said in an interview.
About 40 percent (225 of 560) of diseases reviewed by researchers had a genetic component, according to a 2019 study published in Nature Genetics. Researchers used a database of nearly 45 million patient records (provided by Aetna) to estimate the influence of genes and environment on the health of fraternal and identical twins.
Understanding personal risk factors can help families plan around their unique needs and take charge of their health, Rhee says. It’s important to gather detailed medical histories about grandparents, parents and children that can be shared. The history should include any chronic disease such as cancers, heart failure, diabetes, asthma, allergies, dementia and mental illness. That doesn’t mean every illness is linked to your genetic code; environmental and behavioral factors can also put you at greater risk for disease. Smokers, for example, are at higher risk of developing lung disease or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
To learn what questions to ask relatives based on any chronic illnesses they may have had, from AARP, CLICK HERE.
