Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National American Indian Month and Women’s History Month. What do these months have in common? These are a few of the monthly observances in the United States. But have you ever thought about how they can help your health?
When you initially see health professionals, they often ask questions about your health, your family’s health history and factors affecting both. But if you don’t know this information, you won’t be able to share it.
As monthly observations come around, use these as reminders to dig into your ancestry and family background. Speak to your parents and relatives to find out the health issues, diseases and inherited tendencies that run in your family [1][2]. Some individuals may also consider getting genetic testing done. If you decide to do this, read about the advantages and disadvantages first [3]. No matter how you gather your information, learning about your heritage and family history will help you know your risks and become proactive concerning your health. Your life depends on it.
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Resources To Consider
- NIH Medline Plus Magazine. (2019, November). 8 Health Questions To Ask Your Family Members. National Institute of Health. https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/8-health-questions-to-ask-your-family-members.
- Medline Plus. (2019, June). Family History. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/familyhistory.html
- Medline Plus. (2021, June). Genetic Testing. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/genetictesting.html.