Why It's Important to Know Your Family History When There's a Genetic Link

A complete family health history is a detailed record of a person and their close relatives and typically includes information relating to three generations. This includes parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, nieces and nephews and children. 

Often, families share similar genetic backgrounds, lifestyles, and environments and offer clues as to health conditions that might run in a family. By understanding these patterns of disorders, genetic experts can determine the risk these health problems present to an individual, other family members and future generations. 

Risk of Common Disorders Can Be Identified

A skilled geneticist can determine the increased likelihood of common health conditions like cancers, type 2 diabetes, strokes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A blend of genetic factors, lifestyle choices and environmental aspects can offer information relating to the risk of certain conditions.

Of course, while family history can provide insight into the risk of particular health conditions, finding relatives with those conditions is not a confirmation that you will develop them. As such, someone with no family history of a disease may still be at risk. 

Risk of rare Disease

Obviously rare diseases are difficult to identify and patients with rare disease can have particular problems identifying the expertise they need. Many rare diseases are genetically determined and Clinical Geneticists can often be the source of help a patient may need to identify their condition and ensure accurate diagnosis. This is the first step towards focused management of the problem. In one case we know of, a patient took their child to Sydney Children’s Hospital, where the condition their child had was first identified but saw other doctors and then came back to Dublin, where we made the diagnosis. Finding the right expertise can be a real issue, as we know well at Genetics.ie

Why It's Important to Understand Your Health History 

When you know your family health history, it allows you to take the necessary steps to reduce your risk. For example, someone at risk of breast cancer may be recommended frequent or earlier mammography screening. Regular checkups combined with positive lifestyle changes like exercising, eating well and stopping smoking can lower your chances. 

The simplest way to obtain this kind of familial information is to talk to your relatives and ask them what kind of problems they've experienced and when. A family get-together is a good place to talk about such things and obtaining medical records of any of your deceased  relatives  can help to give you a complete picture. 

Helping to Keep You & Your Family Safe

When you suspect you or a family member is at risk of developing an inherited disease, the Genetics.ie team is here to help you get the answers you need. Under the watchful eye of experienced geneticist Dr Willie Reardon, we offer the full range of testing relating to chromosome disorders, muscular dystrophies, birth defects and more. 
To find out more about us and the work we do from our Blackrock Clinic, visit us today at www.genetics.ie. Alternatively, talk to our friendly expert team by calling us on 087 4037149 or filling out our appointment form, after which we’ll be in touch shortly.