The world of medicine has changed greatly since we boomers were kids. Gone is the friendly family physician who would come to our house to check on us when we were sick. Also gone are several of the childhood diseases—like polio—our parents feared that we might contract. Medical science and technology have joined forces to make substantial advancements in the field. One such innovation is genetic testing. Is this something you might want to consider?
According to the National Institute on Senior Health, there are several reasons you should request this particular test. If you have a family history of the following risk factors, genetic testing could assess your own chances for developing the disease:
• A family history of cancer or heart disease that is prevalent in several generations
• Close relatives who developed these types of diseases earlier than is considered normal
• If you are a member of a racial or ethnic population prone to certain diseases
If any of the above is true for you, genetic testing could provide you with the information you need to take preventable measures that may well reduce your chances for contracting the disease. In fact, genetic testing has evolved to the point that markers for hundreds of conditions including less common types of breast, ovarian and colon cancer can be identified.
Other health problems that are often inherited include: dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, blood clots, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. So, if you have a family history of these types of conditions, you may want to schedule the test and assess your own risk factors.
For more information on this topic, check out the National Institute on Senior Health and their information on Creating a Family Health History. It just might save your life as well as the lives of your children and grandchildren.