Knowing what health issues run in your family can help prevent or treat chronic diseases.

Any health information from your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles can be helpful.
It’s crucial for everyone to be aware of a history of cardiovascular disease. It is also useful to know if certain cancers run in your family. Earlier screenings may be recommended due to an increased risk.

“Health screenings are vitally important. Most of the pushback I get about cancer screenings, specifically, is patients may not feel a test is necessary if they don’t have any symptoms,” said Dr. Cory Fisher. “But the key to screening tests is catching disease early. If we find something during a screening test when you’re asymptomatic, it’s much more likely to be treatable.”

It’s also key to establish a good relationship with your primary care doctor and review your family health history during annual physicals.