HHS HealthBeat (October 26, 2009)

Keeping up with the family

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

When doctors ask you how your family is doing, they’re not looking for an answer along the lines of, "Fine. And yours?"

The doctors are looking for specifics about disease, as Dr. Alfred Berg of the University of Washington notes:

[Dr. Alfred Berg speaks] "Of course, many common disease have genetic, environmental and lifestyle causes that family members share."

So knowing the medical problems of your family gives a doctor insight into what might affect you. That’s why doctors consider the family health history so important.

As health information technology advances, doctors want to get better information. Dr. Berg chaired a meeting at the National Institutes of Health about how to improve the standard family history. But one step people can take now is to keep track of how their families are doing.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011