Parade Magazine dated Sept. 19, 2004

Create A Family History

Someday, a DNA scan from a single drop of blood may tell you the diseases you're most likely to develop. A family history can do the same - now.

"Family history may be the single greatest risk factor for disease" says Dr. Paula Yoon of the CDC's Family Health Initiative, which encourages consumers to complete a family history and discuss it with their doctors. "Charting your family history enables you to set priorities based on your personal health risks."

Knowing that you have a relative with, say, colon cancer could mean that you should start screening 10 years earlier. Yet doctors average less than 2.5 minutes discussing family history and rarely include a family tree in a patient's file.

The CDC Family History Initiative provides information. Go to www.cdc.gov/genomics/fhix.htm to learn more.