Your Health & Wellness is in your hands. Knowing your family health history is very important. It serves as a guide into understanding your own health and wellness. Many people are unaware of their family's health history due to the private manner in which it was kept. Others are unaware because they may not have access to a parent who may have died and they are not in touch with that side of the family while there are those who do not know their parent/s - due to adoption, orphanage, foster care, absent parent. Whatever, the case, it's time to know How You Are Doing.
First you should schedule and attend an annual physical with your doctor. If you do not have one, find one. Ask for a complete physical. If you have any concerns, discuss it with your doctor, ask questions (write them down if you have to). Your doctor will answer your questions and if he/she is too busy, ask if you can send them an email or call at a later time.
The doctors role is to see about your health and your role is to see about your health - you both share the same goals. You should feel free to discuss any unusual symptoms that you are experiencing. Having headaches lately, tell your doctor. Loss of appetite, do not dismiss it as though you may be stressed, yes you may but it can also be something more serious that your doctor can determine through further tests, referrals to the appropriate specialists and may even have a simple alternative such as discontinuing your current medication as it applies.
Although you may not have a family history of certain diseases/illnesses, your lifestyle may contribute to the disease/illness that you develop. An example: if you are overweight and obese, you have a greater risk of having diabetes. Of course, there are thin people with diabetes. However, the important thing here is to focus on your health and not worry or become distracted by others way of life. There are smokers who have smoked since they were 10-13 years old and are still living way into their 70's. On the other hand, there are smokers who have smoked since they were 18 years old and did not live to see their 40th or 50th birthday. Your body is unique and responds differently. What you need to do is know it and know it well.
