Holidays time to talk family health

In the coming few days, most of us will be spending plenty of time with family members.

After the church services, gift exchanges, holiday feasts and debates over the tea party and President Barack Obama, there actually is something that may be critical to your health. Take a few minutes to talk about family health history.

Dr. Robert Teachman, a family medicine physician on James Island, says the holidays are an ideal time, especially for people in their 20s, to find out about family medical issues.

"A lot of times, I'll ask patients in their 20s about their family history and they don't know anything," says Teachman.

When talking about medical issues, Teachman suggests focusing on cardiac medical history -- relatives who have had heart attacks or strokes. He adds, "If your father had a heart attack at 40, I should know that."

Teachman says cancers also are key, especially breast, colon, cervical and skin cancers, because if a close relative has had any of those, it could prompt earlier-than-usual testing. One condition that Teachman says is overlooked when thinking of family history is depression. Other questions should be about diabetes and prostate cancer.

How far back does someone have to go?

Teachman says the most important line of family members is immediate -- father, mother, brothers and sisters -- and then grandparents, uncles and aunts.

The nonprofit Genetic Alliance suggests these guidelines for creating a family medical history:

Reach David Quick at 937-5516.