By Eric D. Griggs, M.D,
The first step in changing our lifestyle begins at home- literally.? Start with looking at your family and assessing their past and present health history.?? Considering the importance and latest emphasis on lifestyle changes, I felt it appropriate to revisit where healthy living begins- by ?Climbing your Family Tree.?
While Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Cancer? may be? the major health threats in the forefront of the American media,? I would dare say that an equally formidable threat to the survival of the American family is something much more obscure, but ironically obvious. That foe is the generational breakdown of communication about health issues in the family tree.? Traditionally, issues of Heart Attack, Stroke, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and even Arthritis, have come to be accepted as parts of the genetic cycles of our family histories. While genetics do play a large role in predisposition for diseases, what attempts are we making to actually break or alter the cycle so our families can live longer and better lives? We need to ask ourselves, how well do we know our family history? When was the last time we climbed our family tree?
Let?s start with the roots, the strongest and oldest part of a tree, buried deep in the ground ? our ancestors. From as recent as our grandparents, it is important to gather medical information. What do we know about their health histories? Where did they live? What diseases did they have? At what age did the diseases start and how did they find out?? Have they passed way? If so, at what age and what was the cause?? If they are still living, how old are they now? What medicines do they take and why? Ask what they would do differently.
The next stop in our climb is the trunk, the visible pillar of strength. The tree trunk is the connection between the roots and the branches.? It survives the weather of the external environment day to day. Obviously, the trunk is our parents.? Whether or not both are alive, medical information about our parents is essential to our survival.? When was the last time we asked our parents about the medicines they take and why?? The same questions required of the roots are required of the trunk. More importantly, prevention should be the theme. It is important to find out which diseases our parents feel could have been prevented (i.e. ? Type 2 Diabetes). Was obesity a contributing factor?? Smoking??? Unhealthly? Diet?? Lack of exercise?? Drugs?? Alcohol? What lifestyles changes have they made?
These questions bring us to the most personal portion of our ascent ? the branches. Here we are forced to ask the most difficult questions. While obviously, we should inquire of our siblings about what health issues they face, we have to ask ourselves what we are doing to live educated and healthy lives. Based on data collected from our roots and trunk, what we are doing to break any patterns of preventable disease passed from generation to generation??? All of this is necessary to insure that we bring forth bright, beautiful, healthy, and informed blossoms for our future ? our children.
Your prescription for the week:? Start to climb your family tree, your kids will thank you later? And as always, Get Checked. Get Fit. Get Moving! ?
Got Health questions? Email Doc Griggs at:???AskDocGriggs@fox8tv.net
Facebook:?www.facebook.com/docgriggs1
Twitter: @docgriggs1
Eric D. Griggs, M.D. (?Doc Griggs?)
Source: http://ladatanews.com/climbing-your-family-tree/
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