Start with the basics: what do you know about your immediate family members? That includes your parents, siblings, children, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Think of major medical issues, causes of death for those who have passed away, age upon diagnosis, any health risks related to your ethnicity, allergies, a history of birth defects or pregnancy loss, and so on. Then ask around to fill in the gaps, and if it feels weird to chat about health in this way, then remember you’re trying to be proactive so you can look out for your own health and wellness.
Next figure out where you might be at risk. After a couple of conversations with my family, I quickly learned that depression, Alzheimer’s, colon cancer, and high blood pressure all run in my family. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to experience each of those; it just means I need to be on the lookout for certain symptoms throughout my life as well as take steps to prevent or minimize my own risk. For example, I can make healthy choices now to minimize stress and anxiety. I can do crossword puzzles or other exercises to keep my memory strong. I can avoid smoking, drink alcohol in moderation, maintain a healthy weight, watch my salt intake, exercise, and eat a well-balanced diet. Will all of those actions ensure I will never suffer from any of the diseases that have affected my family members? No. But when you know better, you do better, and I’d rather do everything possible to protect my health than sit back and wait.