Americans are urged to know their family medical histories -- and to share them with their doctors. Spearheaded by the U.S. surgeon general's office and other public and private agencies, this urging is critical -- because knowledge of family history can lead to more frequent and earlier screenings for particular cancers, to changes in diet and exercise to combat onset of heart disease and diabetes, to more formal genetic counseling and testing if warranted.
This Thanksgiving marked the third anniversary of Thanksgiving National Family History Day, a day the surgeon general's office has reserved for family discussion and documentation of medical histories.
"Family history itself is the first and best genetic test," says Sharon Terry, president of Genetic Alliance, a non-profit group in Washington, D.C.
Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has started a work-place initiative regarding medical family history. In the past year, about half of the 13,000 employees -- from physicians to file clerks -- have completed the computerized family history forms developed by the surgeon general's office.
Acting surgeon general Kenneth Moritsugu says, "knowing your family history can help you make better health choices. Much of what we do in American health care is treat chronic diseases, many of which involve choices over a lifetime."
