Surgeon General urges families to discuss health history with loved ones

As families gather for the traditional turkey dinner this year, Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin is encouraging families to learn more about their health history.

Dr. Benjamin says an important step in prevention and wellness is learning about health conditions in families, which may put individuals at an increased risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness and many others.

Dr. Benjamin adds illnesses from one generation to the next can help health care providers predict illnesses for which you may be at risk, and develop a personalized disease-prevention plan just for them.

Thanksgiving 2012 is the nation’s ninth annual Family Health History Day.
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