About.com Health: It's All in the Family

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Health From Heather Loeb, your About Health Editor Every time you visit a new doctor, you probably have to fill out one of those lengthy forms that asks everything from whether Grandma had diabetes to whether Uncle John had colon cancer. If you don't really know the answer, you can just skip over that part, right? Actually, your doctors -- and you -- can learn a lot about your future risk for certain diseases by knowing your family history. Heart Disease: It's All Relative For example, family history is one of the strongest indicators of developing heart disease. Unfortunately, you can't control your family. But you can control a lot of other risk factors to help lower your overall chances of developing ticker trouble. Heart Disease Risk Factors You Can Control See More About:  cardiac risk factors  genetics and heart disease  family history Prostate Cancer in the Family Some studies have shown that if you have a first-degree relative with prostate cancer, your risk of developing prostate cancer is approximately two and a half times as high as someone who has no family history of the disease. The Impact of a Family History of Lung Cancer See More About:  prostate cancer risks  prostate cancer prevention  prostate cancer diagnosis Is Alcoholism Inherited? Some scientific evidence suggests that alcoholism has a genetic component, but remember -- this is a risk, not a destiny. The Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Addictions Will My Child Inherit My Bipolar Disorder? See More About:  genetics of alcoholism  frequently asked questions  children of alcoholics The Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing Scientists have looked into the role that genetics plays in several different diseases. But even though you can test for whether you have genetic predispositions to certain diseases -- would you want to know? Should You Have the Breast Cancer Gene Test? The ApoE 4 Gene in Alzheimer's Disease At-Home Genetic Testing Kits See More About:  genetic testing  personalized medicine  hipaa Health Ads Health Cola Health Concerns Department of Health News in Health Public Health MS Featured Articles Follow About.com Health on Twitter! Massage Away Depression? Help Your Kids Swallow Pills Do Breast Implants Cause Cancer? 20 Public Speaking Tips Does Wheat-Free Equal Gluten-Free?   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Readers Respond What's in Your Gym Bag? How I Tore My ACL My IBS Relief Plan Advertisement