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THEIMPORTANCEOFKNOWINGYOURFAMILYHISTORY
from The Heart of the Matter: Uncovering the Link Between Family History and Heart Health — Dr. Ranjit Ja
Knowing your family history is essential when it comes to understanding your risk for heart disease. Research has shown that people with a family history of heart disease have a higher risk of developing the condition themselves. In fact, having a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with heart disease doubles your risk of developing the condition.
By understanding your family history, and visiting Dr Ranjit Jagtap Clinic, you can take steps to reduce your risk of heart disease and potentially prevent it from developing. For example, if you know that heart disease runs in your family, you can make lifestyle changes such as eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking to help reduce your risk.
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To understand your family history of heart disease, you need to gather and document information about your relatives’ health. This information can include:
1.RELATIVES’AGESANDCAUSESOFDEATH
2.HISTORYOFCARDIOVASCULARPROBLEMS,INCLUDINGHEARTDISEASE,STROKE, ANDOTHERS
3.RISKFACTORSINCLUDEDIABETES,HIGHCHOLESTEROL,ANDBLOODPRESSURE.
•HIGHBLOODPRESSURE
•HIGHCHOLESTEROL
•DIABETES
•SMOKING
•OBESITY
•PHYSICALINACTIVITY
•UNHEALTHYDIET
Onceyouhavegatheredthisinformation,it’simportantto documentitinawaythatiseasytoaccessandsharewithyour healthcareprovider.Youcanuseafamilyhealthhistoryform, suchastheoneprovidedbytheCentersforDiseaseControl andPrevention,orcreateyourowndocument.