Thanksgiving is the most remarkable holiday on our annual calendar. It is the one holiday that celebrates the unity of all Americans irrespective of race, creed, religion or gender orientation. For one day a year, we are all Americans celebrating the uniqueness of our country and all it offers to each of us and our families.
The Surgeon General of the United States, since 2004, has declared Thanksgiving Day is to be National Family Health History Day.
As the Surgeon General states on the Family Health History Initiative webpage, “Health care professionals have known for a long time that common diseases – heart disease, cancer, and diabetes – and rare diseases – like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia – can run in families. If one generation of a family has high blood pressure, it is not unusual for the next generation to have similarly high blood pressure. Tracing the illnesses suffered by your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take action to keep you and your family healthy.”
The more we know about the genetic illnesses that have been prevalent in our families and in our respective cultures the more likely we are to be able to take proactive action to ensure a better quality of life.
National Family Health History Day, established by the office of Surgeon General of the United States, is an indication of the importance of your genes as the roadmap to your vulnerability for certain genetically transmitted diseases. As a service to you, we at Curus, your healthcare GPS, have included this link to our GeneCalculator for you to print, fill out and share with your family.
Curus is not rendering medical advice in “Health Points”.
If you have any questions regarding the content in this newsletter please contact your physician.
Good health is a constant journey. We are your healthcare GPS.
