Family Health Backgrounds

I go for a normal check-up and I get asked questions about my father. Well, I never knew him. Next, grandfather, heart attacks or strokes. I never knew him either. How about mother? Yeah, two new heart valves. Her mother. She's gone too. But she was fit all her life.

How on earth can these questions be answered without them thinking, God, what a family they must have?

Anybody else know anything about family background health??

I think you actually explained it better for me petalsoft ..kiss

I just had a brief health check for an insurance policy. The only family health that came up was father (deceased), mother and siblings. Grandparents did not come up. I suppose the questions depend upon what they are looking for. If I run down the various illnesses my deceased relatives had it gets pretty gloomy but also many of those illnesses are now easily treatable or no longer the issue they were fifty years ago.

I do get asked about my parents health and my siblings.

There are hereditary conditions which can progress down the line so it can provide a better picture. For example, female breast cancer.

Gynoslave,

Family health background gives the physician a road map to watch for things in your health that can be related or exactly what a family member has had or currently has. It is also no guarantee that you will have the same health issues. Physicians are also aware that people are adopted and with that some people unfortunately do not have any health information regarding their birth parents or the family health history of their birth parents.

Do the best you can. Hopefully your GP is a great diagnostician and able to catch the little things that are not a big deal, though keeps track of them in case there is a pattern and they are linked to something. Be aware of what your body is telling you, though DO NOT become a hypochondriac. If you feel something is not right, don't back down until you have the answers you need.

Otherwise, best wishes to you for incredible great health! CHEERS!

Doc always says that 90 percent of diagnosing a patient is in the history, and he's absolutely right, but he doesn't always mean your family history, could mean your history as well.

On another note, my husband is adopted and he knows absolutely no family history at all.

Hope this helps?

Mashie