huffingtonpost - 19 hours ago

There’s a conversation health experts want everyone to be having with their grandparents – but chances are, you’ve never had it. A global study from Bupa of over 8,000 adults and 169 healthcare professionals has revealed one in seven (14% of) people have never spoken to their relatives about their family health history.The worry is that several conditions can be passed on – so you might not know you’ve got an increased risk of certain illnesses until later down the line. ‘These conversations can be life-saving’While most (87%) people say that family health conversations are important, fewer than one in four (24%) have discussed family health genetic risk factors with the next generation.Just one in six (15% of) adults recall having health-related conversations with their grandparents, despite the significant role full family health histories play in early diagnosis and managing genetic health risks.Two thirds (64%) of adults have discussed family health with their parents.Iñaki Ereño, Group CEO of Bupa, said: “Too many of us around the world are still not talking about our family health histories, even though these conversations can be lifesaving.“Understanding your wider family’s medical background can give your healthcare provider crucial insight, leading to earlier diagnoses, personalised treatment options and, in many cases, preventive action that can reduce future health risks.”Sadly, not everyone has grandparents that are still alive – if this is the case, perhaps you could speak to your parents about any health conditions they knew of.Ereño noted that families often avoid these discussions because “they feel uncomfortable” or “don’t know how to broach the topic” or “they assume there’s nothing they can do about it if they are at risk”.But starting an open conversation with your family about health is “one of the simplest, most effective things you can do to protect your own health and your family’s”, he added. Among healthcare professionals, half (50%) reported that the major reason why patients do not have conversations with family members about their health histories is that they do not realise many illnesses or diseases can be passed on through families.Diseases that can be passed down include: heart disease, asthma, diabetes, some types of cancer, and single gene disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia.Nearly four in five (79%) healthcare professionals surveyed said more lives could be saved if patients had better knowledge of their family health history – and a majority (83%) agreed that family health history is important in their clinical decision-making.‘We need to make having conversations about health a normal part of life’The prospect of having these conversations can be daunting – especially in families where health is rarely discussed. Clinical psychologist Dr Sherry Pagoto said: “When we find something daunting, especially when it’s a big unknown, our tendency can sometimes be to avoid it, even if we know it’s important.“This applies to conversations about family health history, which many people find difficult or awkward to initiate.“However, we need to make having conversations about health a normal part of life, to break down the taboo, so that more people are armed with the knowledge they need to take steps which could save their life – or a family member’s life.”Related...Selling My Grandparents’ Home Feels Like A Betrayal. How Do We Let Go Without Guilt?I m A Grandma To 10 Kids – Here Are 4 Common Mistakes Grandparents MakeGrandparents Are Getting Older, On Average. Here s Why That Matters.

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