Santa Fe Standard

A unique initiative is encouraging families to discuss their health history during the Thanksgiving holiday. National Family Health History Day, observed annually on Thanksgiving, aims to prompt important family conversations about health that often do not take place.

"Sometimes the best way of preventing future health problems is just talking to each other," said Dr. Miranda Durham, Chief Medical Officer at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). "Knowing your family health history gives you valuable information to share with your medical providers to decide when things like blood sugar testing, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screening are right for you."

Many people have a family history of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The likelihood of developing these diseases increases if close relatives are affected. Rare conditions like the CCM1 gene mutation, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia can also be inherited.

Collecting detailed family health information could be lifesaving. Information should include major medical conditions, causes of death, age at diagnosis or death, and ethnic background from parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The NMDOH suggests having this conversation at least once during the holiday season to keep everyone informed about their family's health status. The U.S. Surgeon General's free web-based tool My Family Health Portrait can assist in tracking this information.

For further details on National Family Health History Day visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Family Health History page.

Questions regarding this press release can be directed to David Barre at (505) 699-9237 (Office).

En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.