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Almost everyone has attended a family reunion. But what about hosting a family get-together to share important health information? It’s a novel idea that could help families get up-to-date on aging parent’s critical medical information.
A family health history makes sense because:
- Family members share genes,
- Environments, which all together may affect their risk of developing health problems.
Most people have a family health history of common chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease, or diabetes) and other health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure and high cholesterol). A person with a close relative affected by a chronic disease may have a higher risk of developing that disease than a person who does not have an affected relative.
The Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait tool could help families collect and organize family health history information they can easily share with their doctor. This information can help a doctor caring for other family members decide which tests and screenings are recommended to assess risks.
Our local Mississauga Home Instead CAREGivers can help keep seniors healthy in spite of their family tree. For more information on our services call 905- 276-2273.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.
