| Genealogy, the practice of finding your ancestors and | | | | easier to spot, and this in turn can help individuals |
| charting out your family tree, has become one of the | | | | become more aware of health threats to which they |
| most practiced hobbies worldwide. People of all ages | | | | and their children may be more susceptible. This of |
| are digging into old family records and getting back to | | | | course, can be key to preventing health problems |
| their roots with a myriad of different tools and | | | | from ever developing. |
| websites available to assist this growing passion. The | | | | For example, a member of a family that has a strong |
| stories and characters people find in their family past | | | | history of diabetes for several generations clearly |
| can bring us pride, shame, entertainment, and most | | | | marked on a family health pedigree might be inspired |
| of all, give us a feeling of who we are and where we | | | | to make smart dietary and healthy living choices for |
| came from. | | | | him or herself and his or her children, as well as be |
| One aspect of genealogy that is less well known, but | | | | particularly motivated to get frequent blood sugar |
| may be even more beneficial to you than collecting | | | | checkups he or she might otherwise miss. |
| interesting family stories, is charting your family health | | | | As an individual reaches the age at which his or her |
| pedigree. A family health pedigree is similar to a family | | | | ancestors began to sicken and die, that individual may |
| tree in that it organizes your ancestors in generational | | | | want to see a doctor more frequently and be tested |
| groups showing parent-child relationships, as well as | | | | and screened for family diseases on a regular basis |
| marriages and siblings. However, a family health | | | | to catch any problems in the early stages before it is |
| pedigree differs from a typical family tree pedigree in | | | | too late. |
| that it records certain health issues, illnesses and | | | | Knowing your family health pedigree can also serve |
| disorders individuals in a family have had, and shows | | | | as a warning for potential health issues your children |
| trends of those illnesses and disorders through | | | | may face, allowing you to make informed decisions |
| families. | | | | as you prepare for the arrival of a new baby, or |
| Scientists have long known that certain disorders are | | | | decide whether or not you want to immunize your |
| genetically linked, and even that parents can pass on | | | | child. |
| a genetic weakness or tendency for certain illnesses | | | | Being familiar with, and charting your family health |
| and diseases to their children and grandchildren. But | | | | pedigree is valuable for so many reasons. You can |
| the extent to which illnesses, diseases and disorders, | | | | start with collecting health information from your |
| or even age of death are affected by heredity is | | | | parents, grandparents, and any surviving relatives and |
| largely unknown. Charting a family health pedigree can | | | | go from there. There are also experts available to |
| make trends and patterns in the health of a family | | | | help you in many family health pedigree businesses. |