Talk more than turkey this Thanksgiving

The smell of roasted turkey and bubbling mac and cheese fill the house, which is already full of family who have gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving. We know the questions we expect to hear: “How are the kids doing?” and “How are Grandma and Grandpa?” But this year, we encourage you to bring up new questions about family health history.

Did you know Thanksgiving Day is also National Family Health History Day? Each year since 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General has promoted this national observance as an opportunity for people to talk about, and write down, health problems that may run in the family to help better prepare for a healthier future.

Aristides Sastre, MD, a family physician with Baptist Primary Care, said although it may be a tough topic to bring up over the holiday, there are ways to approach it delicately.

“A lot of family members keep their health history private or they’re not used to bringing it up over the dinner table,” he said. “However, make sure to tell your family you’re just trying to gain a better picture of your overall health.”

Why your family health history is important

“It’s so valuable to know your family health history,” said Patricia Calhoun, MD, FAAFP, a family physician with Baptist Primary Care. “You can’t change your genetics but you can change your lifestyle to maintain your best health.”

For example, if your family has a history of heart disease, your doctor is likely to recommend you quit smoking, exercise and eat less saturated fat. If women in your family have had breast cancer, your doctor may recommend that you start getting mammograms earlier and more frequently. Knowing your family’s health history can help your doctor make suggestions based on factors you can control.

When talking to your relatives, pay close attention to the following conditions in your family history:

• Cancers that have a higher genetic predisposition such as breast, ovarian and prostate
• Heart disease, especially in a male relative younger than 55 and/or a female relative younger than 65
• Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease and thyroid disease
• Blood abnormalities such as sickle cell and frequent blood clots
• Diabetes
• Mental health disorders

"Unfortunately, I have quite a few patients who know their family members had cancer but they don’t know what kind. Specific details are key because some cancers have a higher genetic predisposition than others,” said Dr. Sastre. He added that knowing the age when a person was diagnosed is one of the most critical pieces of information to collect.

In addition to knowing your family history, filling out this Preventive Health Scorecard can help determine if your screenings meet recommendations for your age group. Getting the necessary tests can lessen the risk of developing certain health issues.

Planning for a healthy future

Dr. Calhoun asks her patients, "What are your specific concerns today about your health? What diseases or diagnoses are in your family that may affect you and your future health?" She said these are the same types of questions you can ask your family members about their own or other relative's health. Their answers may guide more prevention or closer monitoring for you.

Other questions to ask:

• What do I need to know about our family health history to best prepare for the future?
• How/why did previous family members pass away? How old were they? What were their lifestyle habits (smoking, activity level, etc.)?
• Are there any records available? Hospital records, discharge summaries and surgical records for relatives will help you collect detailed data that could benefit other family members.

When gathering information about relatives, try to aim for at least three generations. However, first-degree relatives are the most important; ask about the health histories of siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and first cousins.

So, how can you keep track of all of this information? The My Baptist Chart patient portal not only collects your own personal health information, but also has a section for family history. Print out these notes and bring them to each of your doctor’s appointments. This record will help you stay organized and provide updated and consistent information to each of your physicians.

Explaining your genetic health conditions

Over the past few years, at-home DNA genetic testing and ancestry test kits (think 23andMe and AncestryDNA™) have become extremely popular. Although they may seem fun, they can uncover some pretty critical information when it comes to health history.

Dr. Sastre gives a “heads up” to people utilizing these DNA services: “These tests seem interesting, but I always recommend having a specialist explain the meaning of certain health conditions uncovered in family history.”

The most accurate way to gather information about your genetic health, other than talking to your family, is to talk to your doctor about whether additional gene testing is right for you. Genetic counseling is recommended for people undergoing genetic testing to help patients understand what the results could mean.

Even if your family has trends of genetic conditions, it doesn’t mean you're guaranteed to develop one. Still, you should work with your doctor to make a personalized plan of preventive efforts. It can be as simple as wearing sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, getting vaccines to prevent disease and participating in regular screenings for cancer.

So just remember: After your tummy is full this holiday season, talk about the past to help you better prepare for the future.