When it comes to living a healthy life, many people focus on adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors, like eating more fruits and vegetables or working out every day. But their family’s health history is just as important for their health and yet many people still forget about it.
Many people don’t realize that some conditions can be passed down through generations. So, if someone in your family has had a serious health condition like diabetes or heart disease, you could be at risk, too.
Below, our family medicine specialists in Cedar Lake, Indiana are going to explain exactly how your family’s health history affects your own health. By understanding this connection, you can make better choices to support a healthier life.
Your family’s health history is more important than you think.
If your parents or grandparents had chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or certain types of cancer, there is a chance you could be at higher risk for those as well. So, when you consult with a family medicine specialist in Cedar Lake, Indiana, it’s important to tell them about your family’s health history. This information gives your family doctor a clearer picture of your personal health risks and helps them create a more targeted care plan for you.
Family doctors see the bigger picture because they see the whole family.
Family medicine specialists are trained to care for people of all ages, from babies and children to adults and seniors. Because of this, they tend to see and treat many people from the same family and are in a unique position to catch patterns that would otherwise be ignored.
For example, if your mother has a thyroid disease, and you are now suddenly starting to gain weight and feel tired all the time, your doctor will connect the dots immediately. This is because they are not looking at symptoms in isolation — they have a family history to refer to that can help them make more accurate diagnoses. This is how building a long-term relationship with your Cedar Lake family medicine specialist can result in faster diagnoses and better care.
Your DNA can reveal a lot about your health risks.
Your genes carry a lot of information. In fact, genetic testing can explain why someone has a condition or if they are more likely to develop one, according to the CDC.
Even the American Cancer Society reports that people with specific gene changes, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at a higher risk for breast or ovarian cancer. If you have had more than one family member diagnosed with cancer (and especially breast or ovarian cancer), you should consider getting tested yourself.
A good family medicine specialist in Cedar Lake, Indiana can walk you through that whole process. They will talk to you about your family’s health history and help you decide if testing makes sense. If you go ahead with testing and the results do show something concerning, your doctor might recommend earlier screenings, medication, or even preventive surgery to lower your risk before anything develops.
Turn your health history into a prevention plan.
It is normal to feel uneasy when you learn that a certain illness runs in your family, but a family history does not actually guarantee that you will develop the same issue. Even the American Heart Association says that up to 80% of heart attacks can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
If you know your family history, you and your family medicine specialist can work together to create a care plan. This plan might include changing your diet, adding more exercise to your day, managing your stress, sticking with your medications, etc. You don’t even have to do everything at once. Small changes can deliver big results over time.
Looking for an Affordable Family Medicine Specialist in Cedar Lake, Indiana?
Are you ready to take control of your health and build a care plan that fits you and your family? If so, and if you’re ready to meet with an affordable family medicine specialist in Cedar Lake, Indiana, our physicians at 219 Health Network are the people to see. Contact us today at 833-219-0001 to schedule your visits.