There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to face a doctor for some issue or even routine checkup, and face the question “Does ________ run in your family?” Or “Is there is a family history of heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure etc? The doctor or nurse will expect an answer that will help them determine what they should be looking for, checking for, or aware of to increase and maintain your health. Usually when asked if something specific runs in one’s family the response is “Not that I know of?” Well why is it that we don’t know what types of illnesses and sickness be it mental or physical run in our own families. Why aren’t we asking questions?
Well, for me I didn’t want to know because I worry so much and I tend to be an extremist so I’ll begin to think that since it’s prevalent in my family that I’ll get it which isn’t true.The Genetics Reference online states that “While a family medical history provides information about the risk of specific health concerns, having relatives with a medical condition does not mean that an individual will definitely develop that condition.On the other hand, a person with no family history of a disorder may still be at risk of developing that disorder.” It is beneficial for you to know what types of diseases, illnesses, addictions, and mental illnesses that run in your family and your family genes.
I’ve learned that it’s just good to know because it will shape your decisions and patterns about how you do and live out your life.
In my immediate and extended family there are drug addictions that have destroyed their lives, livelihoods, and ability to be contributing members of society. Since I know this and have experienced within myself how prone I am to becoming addicted to things and even people I am more conscious and aware of the things I allow myself to do. Mental illness and an onslaught of other illnesses and diseases run in my family and it took me asking those questions to find out because I was experiencing health issues that were concerning to my doctors. In asking those questions what I was experiencing was completely hereditary. If I had known earlier than I did we would’ve been able to take precautions.
Many deal with depression and other mental illnesses whether severe or not, but live in denial because we think it doesn’t run in our families or we just don’t want to know but how many of us have truly asked and know?! It is Important, vital, and necessary for everyone to know the hiSTORY of drugs, addictions, illnesses, diseases, and mental health so that they are aware and able to combat the risks. It is equally important to know how close these issues are to you in the family line. It’s important to know if it’s something that a grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, sister, brother, uncle, aunt or anything else further down the family line have issues with. Where did it begin? These are all very good to know because it can help determine how high your risk levels are for the same issues.
The first interview I did was with my biological fathers mother (my gran). I interviewed Barbara Pete this weekend who is sixty-five years old and a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana. One of the questions I asked her was “How has your life been touched by drugs, sickness, and mental health?” Barbara answered “I have a lot of drugs down in my family. Two brothers died of AIDS from needle use. And there’s still crack use in my family to this day that hurts me so bad. Mental health issues like depression and schizophrenia and bipolar runs in my family and it hurts me. I get depressed too but I take medication. And I have rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, and high blood pressure.” Knowing this has given me an awareness and helped me to be more in tune with what’s going on in my life, my body, and my mind so that I can better take care of myself and maintain a healthy life.
Get to know your family health hiSTORY because it is beneficial to your life.
For the complete article on “Why is it important to know you family history?” please visit: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/inheritance/familyhistory
**Also, I will post Barbara Pete’s complete hiSTORY soon!!**
Brooklyn Arielle
…A hiSTORY waiting to be told.
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