Thanksgiving the Perfect Time to Gather Family Medical History

As local residents gather with their loved ones over Thanksgiving, medical experts at Good Samaritan Hospital hope they will share more than just the pumpkin pie and cranberries—we hope they will share their family medical history.
 
Many common diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes and even rare diseases like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia can run in families.  Knowledge of the illnesses suffered by parents, grandparents and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk.

The U.S. Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving “National Family History Day.” You can find an online tool for collecting family medical history at the Surgeon General’s Web site.  Also, women can complete a short quiz to assess their risk for breast cancer at the Good Samaritan web site.

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