What Runs in Your Family? Find Out With a Family Health Pedigree
Genealogy, the practice of finding your ancestors and charting out your family tree, has become one of the most practiced hobbies worldwide. People of all ages are digging into old family records and getting back to their roots with a myriad of different tools and websites available to assist this growing passion. The stories and characters people find in their family past can bring us pride, shame, entertainment, and most of all, give us a feeling of who we are and where we came from.
One aspect of genealogy that is less well known, but may be even more beneficial to you than collecting interesting family stories, is charting your family health pedigree. A family health pedigree is similar to a family tree in that it organizes your ancestors in generational groups showing parent-child relationships, as well as marriages and siblings. However, a family health pedigree differs from a typical family tree pedigree in that it records certain health issues, illnesses and disorders individuals in a family have had, and shows trends of those illnesses and disorders through families.
Scientists have long known that certain disorders are genetically linked, and even that parents can pass on a genetic weakness or tendency for certain illnesses and diseases to their children and grandchildren. But the extent to which illnesses, diseases and disorders, or even age of death are affected by heredity is largely unknown. Charting a family health pedigree can make trends and patterns in the health of a family easier to spot, and this in turn can help individuals become more aware of health threats to which they and their children may be more susceptible. This of course, can be key to preventing health problems from ever developing.
For example, a member of a family that has a strong history of diabetes for several generations clearly marked on a family health pedigree might be inspired to make smart dietary and healthy living choices for him or herself and his or her children, as well as be particularly motivated to get frequent blood sugar checkups he or she might otherwise miss.
As an individual reaches the age at which his or her ancestors began to sicken and die, that individual may want to see a doctor more frequently and be tested and screened for family diseases on a regular basis to catch any problems in the early stages before it is too late.
Knowing your family health pedigree can also serve as a warning for potential health issues your children may face, allowing you to make informed decisions as you prepare for the arrival of a new baby, or decide whether or not you want to immunize your child.
Being familiar with, and charting your family health pedigree is valuable for so many reasons. You can start with collecting health information from your parents, grandparents, and any surviving relatives and go from there. There are also experts available to help you in many family health pedigree businesses.
Chart your family health pedigree (http://itrunsinmyfamily.com/) with SGgenomics Inc. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Where To Find Reliable Health Information
Sometimes, health advice can seem like it’s a dime a dozen, but how reliable is all that over-the-fence talk? If you’re looking for health information that’s reputable and trustworthy, you need to approach it like research – check your facts and use multiple sources that you trust.
Consulting a trusted source could mean speaking with your family doctor, phoning a community health help line, looking in a health encyclopedia, or researching on reputable websites. A website should reference multiple health sources and be authored by or include quotes from certified medical professionals before you consider it to be a respected and responsible resource.
There’s also an abundance of health information available on government and public health sites that you should consider both trustworthy and current. Many of these sites can also point you towards local health providers or community centers in your area if you need a face-to-face and one-on-one consultation.
The second key to finding reliable information is to use multiple sources. If you find a website that addresses your particular health issue or question, but you’re not sure about the quality of the information – try double checking that information by searching on other sites. For example, if you are researching cold remedies and you come across a snippet that says ‘Echinacea’ is a herbal remedy that is taken at the first sign of a cold as a form of prevention, you may want to do a simple search engine search for ‘Echinacea,’ or check on your other sites. Much like consulting another doctor, cross checking your courses is like getting a second opinion.
Finding reliable information is about finding sources that you trust. For some that means only consulting their family physician, while others prefer to devour health books and consult on-line resources to reach their own diagnosis. The choice is up to you, but always remember to verify your sources and double-check their information. Remember, it’s your health.
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Where To Find Affordable Individual And Family Health Insurance
Individual and family health insurance is the way to go for many people. For example, college and university students may find themselves in a bind when it comes to obtaining affordable health insurance. These students can apply for either a student health insurance plan, or they can apply for an individual and family health insurance plan. Those students with dependents such as children usually opt to look into affordable individual and family health insurance plans.
But how can you find an affordable individual and family health insurance plan? After all, individual health insurance plans are notorious for being more expensive than the group health insurance policies you can get through your employer, right?
That’s true, but there are always ways to find an affordable individual and family health insurance plan.
Start shopping for affordable individual and family health insurance. Look around at a few insurance companies that offer individual and family health insurance plans. Check out the company’s ratings, what they’ll offer you with the plan, and then get some quotes. Talk to family members, friends, and co-workers who have experience with these companies and plans.
Never underestimate the power of freedom. Just about every state has some kind of free medical care service for children, even if they are already covered under their parents’ insurance plan. Once you purchase an affordable individual and family health insurance plan, you may be able to let your child or children use these free services for run-of-the-mill illnesses such as the common cold. This will help avoid making claims on your health insurance policy.
Don’t forget the tried and true. If you’re having difficulty finding affordable individual and family health insurance, remember, you can always: Join your spouse’s health insurance plan, check into state-sponsored plans such as Medicaid and Medicare and other health insurance programs specifically for children, or join an organization that offers health insurance plans to its members and their families.