Your family’s medical history may hold many clues about your own health. It can also reveal your risk of developing certain diseases and change when you should start screenings.
This is why it is important to know all the diseases and illnesses that exist among your loved ones.
You may know that your grandmother had cancer, for example. But do you know what kind and at what stage? Or his age at diagnosis?
These little details matter, says Dr. Akshay Syal, an internal medicine physician and NBC News medical contributor.
Syal joined TODAY in a segment that aired Oct. 2 to explain the biggest red flags in your family medical history, what they could mean for your health and what information to share with your doctor.
Expert Tip of the Day: Watch Out for These 4 Red Flags in Your Family Medical History
Once you’ve compiled your family’s medical history, Syal recommends looking for these four red flags:
- Illness at a young age
- Multiple parents with the same disease
- Some cancer models
- Known genetic conditions
“One of the biggest red flags is that the disease occurs at an unusually young age,” says Syal. A heart attack at 45, for example, is very different from a heart attack at 85.
The same goes for strokes, diabetes and cancers. If a family member is diagnosed with an illness much earlier than usual, it could suggest a hereditary component, says Syal.
Also pay attention to whether two or more family members on the same side of the family have the same illness or condition.
The next red flag to look for is trends in cancer diagnoses within your family, says Syal — for example, if multiple close relatives have had breast, colorectal, or uterine cancer.
Finally, if you discover a genetic disease or genetic mutation in your family, such as Lynch syndrome, talk to your doctor.
Why it matters
The goal is to gather information and identify patterns that a doctor can help interpret – not to self-diagnose.
“None of these red flags mean you are guaranteed to develop a disease. They just give us information that can help us identify risk earlier and decide whether screening or prevention needs to change,” says Syal.
A doctor may recommend that you start getting colonoscopies or mammograms earlier and more frequently than people at average risk, for example.
“It can also help us focus on prevention, (monitoring) things like blood pressure, cholesterol or other risk factors before a problem develops,” Syal says.
Certain types of cancer or genetic mutations in your family could increase the risk of hereditary disease, and it may be suggested that you undergo genetic counseling or testing.
How to get started
To compile your family’s medical history, first draw up a family tree, starting with your closest biological relatives and extending to both sides of the family:
- Parents and siblings
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Nephews and nieces
Then fill in the blank spaces. Write down any known illnesses, major health problems, or causes of death for each parent. Always note the details: type, stage and age of diagnosis.
If you don’t know, ask your family. (The holidays are coming!)
Write everything down so you don’t forget. Once you have your family health history, share it with your doctor.
Ask if your history might increase your risk of disease and if it might impact screenings or tests.
Not everyone knows their biological family or has access to their health records. “If this is you, don’t panic. Just tell the doctor everything you know,” notes Syal.
“Family history is not inevitable, but knowing it gives you and your doctor the opportunity to be proactive,” he adds.
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