For Immediate Release:
October 28, 2005

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

Holiday gatherings are a good time to discuss family medical history
Governor designates November as Missouri Family History Month

You know you inherited your grandmother's blue eyes, but do you know you also could inherit her heart disease? Knowing your family's health history is an important part of maintaining your own good health.

While the holiday season is a good time to share family stories and time-honored traditions, it also is a good time to share information about family health issues – past and present. Gov. Matt Blunt has declared the month of November Family History Month in Missouri and encourages all Missourians to learn more about the diseases and causes of death affecting at least three generations of family members.

“Family gatherings, such as holidays, are a great time to catch up on family news and to learn about your family's health history,” said Julie Eckstein, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “Mapping your family's medical history and creating a medical family tree can help you identify some health risks you may face in the years ahead and help you plan for them.”

In 2004, U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona declared Thanksgiving Day – when American families traditionally gather together to celebrate and give thanks – to be the first annual National Family History Day. Americans are encouraged to use their family gatherings as a time to collect important family health information that can benefit all family members.

The Healthstyles 2004 survey, conducted in August by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that 96 percent of Americans believe that knowing a family history is important to their health. The survey also showed that only one-third of Americans has ever tried to gather and organize their families' health history.

“Family health histories should be provided to all health care providers to be retained as a permanent part of a patient's medical file. This information can help health care providers do a better job of assessing a patient's risk of disease and prescribe appropriate preventive measures or courses of treatment,” said Eckstein.

Family history is considered one of the most important risk factors for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and certain psychiatric disorders. Family members share more than genetic characteristics. They also share environments, lifestyles and personal habits. All these components can be factors for disease. Knowing the risk of certain diseases can motivate individuals to be screened for those conditions and change unhealthy behaviors.

The Department of Health and Senior Services has prepared a family history toolkit to assist people in compiling the appropriate information. The toolkit is available upon request by calling the department's TEL-LINK information line at 1-800-TEL-LINK (1-800-835-5465). In addition individuals may order the toolkit by assessing the department's web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/FamilyHistory/.