Why Does Your Doctor Ask for It?
All those questions about your relatives’ health conditions can seem like a bother, but they help them know what to be on the lookout for with you. For example, if your father has high blood pressure, they might want to keep a closer eye on yours. Both nature (your genes) and nurture (your family’s lifestyle) can have an effect on your health -- and you get both from your parents.
What Does Your Doctor Need to Know?
You should tell them about any ongoing conditions (like diabetes or asthma) or serious illnesses (like cancer or a stroke) your parents, grandparents, and siblings have or had and how old they were when the health problem started. If any of them have passed away, let your doctor know their cause of death and how old they were when they died. They also may ask about things like your family’s lifestyle or diet, because relatives tend to have these in common.
