As a practising family physician, I'd like to refute this often repeated myth. Family history can help your doctor to a very limited degree. However, no doctor in his or her right mind would stop looking at a particular diagnosis simply because there was no family history ofit. Diabetes is such an example; if someone came to me with any of the symptoms, I'd check it no matter what. On the other hand, I have hundreds of worried people coming to me yearly because "someone in my family had diabetess." The worry they endure and the costs that ensue aren't worth it. My advice to someone with a family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and exercise regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. My advice to someone without a family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and exercise regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. As a matter of fact, that's my advice to everyone. Two thirds of us are going to die of heart disease and one third of cancer. That figure is undisputed no matter what your genealogy. No matter what your history, you'll cut your risk of death considerably if you use your seatbelt. Dwelling on your genes simply takes the responsibility away from the individual. Let's get over this obsession with our health and get on with genealogy. Trace your family tree for the fun of it not for some supposed sick reason. Bruce ============================================== Bruce Evans M.D. Family Physician and Technical Writer Keep your words both soft and tender, because tomorrow you may have to eat them. -----Original Message----- From: Joyce Stevens [mailto:YankeeDD@twmi.rr.com] Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 5:24 PM To: CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [ON-CEM] Genealogy can save your life, serious comments Genealogy can save your life U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona wants all Americans to know that family history and health conditions are inextricably linked. He also wants us to find out as much as possible about the health problems of our ancestors. Tracing this information can help physicians to anticipate potential problem areas and take preventative actions to keep you healthy. To this end, the Surgeon General has designated Thanksgiving 2004 as the first annual National Family History Day. He asks that Americans set aside some time after the turkey dinner to discuss – and document – health problems that are common in the family. According to a recent survey, ninety-six percent of Americans think that knowledge of their family history is important; however, only a third of those surveyed have tried to trace their family’s health history. That level of interest may soon rise thanks to a new computer program created by the Surgeon General’s department, which will create family health history profiles with just a few clicks of the mouse. Individuals are encouraged to print out copies of their completed family health chart for their doctors and other members of the family. Surgeon General Carmona says, "Knowing your family's history can save your life.” Windows users can download the free My Family Health Portrait software today at http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/. ....New England Historic Genealogical Society ==== CA-ONT-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~silentguardians (lookups ) http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~clifford/index.htm ( photos) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~janjones/ (view obits online) ============================== Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. New content added every business day. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx

My apologies for this conversation on your board. I will post my response, but will not post on this subject again. While I appreciate your comments and the truth of what you said, I do have to disagree with you whether you are a physician or not. There are such things as heart weaknesses that run in families despite the effects of diet, exercise or not smoking...they are still there and inherited weaknesses. I have two cousins, an uncle and my father who have died from heart attacks or have had valve replacements. Knowing what is genetically passed down generations is important, and despite your somewhat flippant response, there are some diseases that are very important to families. Retinitus pigmentosa was an inherited "gene defect" that caused extreme hardship to a personal friend and his family. My friend had four children already when his wife's father first exhibited symptoms of this terrible disease. It was too late to do anything, but they were at least prepared for the disease which struck his wife within a few years. His son who had a degree in geology had was struck even earlier at 27 years of age. He had time to get his teaching degree and although blind he can at least hold a position as Professor Geology at a university. All four children were sent to the University of British Columbia for genetic counselling so they could be informed on their and their children's (should they choose to have some) prospects. The easy answer to some health problems might be as you state, but there are many others. As the parent of an adopted multiply handicapped child, I have first hand knowledge of the incredible odds one set of parents of having two children in a row born with Downs Syndrome. I know it DOES happen! Sincerely G. Taylor Bruce Evans wrote: >As a practising family physician, I'd like to refute this often repeated >myth. Family history can help your doctor to a very limited degree. However, >no doctor in his or her right mind would stop looking at a particular >diagnosis simply because there was no family history ofit. Diabetes is such >an example; if someone came to me with any of the symptoms, I'd check it no >matter what. On the other hand, I have hundreds of worried people coming to >me yearly because "someone in my family had diabetess." The worry they >endure and the costs that ensue aren't worth it. My advice to someone with a >family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and exercise >regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. My advice to someone >without a family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and >exercise regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. As a matter of >fact, that's my advice to everyone. > >Two thirds of us are going to die of heart disease and one third of cancer. >That figure is undisputed no matter what your genealogy. No matter what your >history, you'll cut your risk of death considerably if you use your >seatbelt. Dwelling on your genes simply takes the responsibility away from >the individual. Let's get over this obsession with our health and get on >with genealogy. Trace your family tree for the fun of it not for some >supposed sick reason. > >Bruce > >============================================== >Bruce Evans M.D. >Family Physician and Technical Writer > >Keep your words both soft and tender, because tomorrow you may have to eat >them. > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Joyce Stevens [mailto:YankeeDD@twmi.rr.com] >Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 5:24 PM >To: CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [ON-CEM] Genealogy can save your life, serious comments > > >Genealogy can save your life > U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona wants all Americans to know that >family history and health conditions are inextricably linked. He also wants >us to find out as much as possible about the health problems of our >ancestors. Tracing this information can help physicians to anticipate >potential problem areas and take preventative actions to keep you healthy. > To this end, the Surgeon General has designated Thanksgiving 2004 as the >first annual National Family History Day. He asks that Americans set aside >some time after the turkey dinner to discuss – and document – health >problems that are common in the family. > According to a recent survey, ninety-six percent of Americans think that >knowledge of their family history is important; however, only a third of >those surveyed have tried to trace their family’s health history. That level >of interest may soon rise thanks to a new computer program created by the >Surgeon General’s department, which will create family health history >profiles with just a few clicks of the mouse. Individuals are encouraged to >print out copies of their completed family health chart for their doctors >and other members of the family. > Surgeon General Carmona says, "Knowing your family's history can save >your life.” Windows users can download the free My Family Health Portrait >software today at http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/. > ....New England Historic Genealogical Society > > >==== CA-ONT-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== >http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~silentguardians (lookups ) >http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~clifford/index.htm ( photos) >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~janjones/ (view obits online) > >============================== >Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. >New content added every business day. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > > > >==== CA-ONT-CEMETERIES Mailing List ==== >http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~silentguardians (lookups ) http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~clifford/index.htm ( photos) >http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~janjones/ (view obits online) > >============================== >Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the >last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.13 - Release Date: 16/01/05

With all due respect for Bruce as a physician, I have to concur with G. Taylor that, although there may be "simple" answers in preventing some diseases, there are inherited diseases that, if known, could be prevented or at least, prepared for. Recently, a good friend, father-in-law to my daughter, discovered he had bowl cancer and that by the time it was discovered, it was too late. He has since learned that it has appeared in family members prior to his generation. Another acquaintance died because of a hole in his heart, a genetic inheritance, and with the problem now known, his twin brother was informed of the possibility that he too may have inherited the same defect. Insurance companies ask questions about diseases that may run in the family such as my wife's susceptibility to breast cancer because her mother had cancer and suffered through a radical mastectomy which, although she lived to be 90, left scars that impeded her physical performance the rest of her life, to the point of not being able to use her arm, which swelled to "Popeye" proportions with a fluid that could not be drained. I am sure that many can related similar stories where, had they known in advance of certain inheritable health problems, they could have either prevented or at least minimized the effect on themselves. My wife had a lump removed several years ago, which turned out to be benign, but she regularly goes for examinations including mammogram, eats the right food and takes a b" complex supplement in hopes to avoid cancer. At 54, she has so far been successful. Family medical history has played a part in the way she conducts her life. Enough said, except that family medical history should not be underrated in its contribution to present and future generations of family health. Respectfully, Gordon Harris Midhurst, Ontario, Canada Researching: HARRIS, GREEN, BOWLBY, COOMBER, BIRCH, SWAYZE, SMITH, BOUGHNER, MORRIS, CALDWELL, CASELEY, MCRAE in Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, United States, & Wales. -------Original Message------- From: gmt.bc@shaw.ca Date: 01/17/05 02:03:00 To: CA-ONT-CEMETERIES-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ON-CEM] OT: Genealogy can save your life, serious comments My apologies for this conversation on your board. I will post my response, but will not post on this subject again. While I appreciate your comments and the truth of what you said, I do have to disagree with you whether you are a physician or not. There are such things as heart weaknesses that run in families despite the effects of diet, exercise or not smoking...they are still there and inherited weaknesses. I have two cousins, an uncle and my father who have died from heart attacks or have had valve replacements. Knowing what is genetically passed down generations is important, and despite your somewhat flippant response, there are some diseases that are very important to families. Retinitus pigmentosa was an inherited "gene defect" that caused extreme hardship to a personal friend and his family. My friend had four children already when his wife's father first exhibited symptoms of this terrible disease. It was too late to do anything, but they were at least prepared for the disease which struck his wife within a few years. His son who had a degree in geology had was struck even earlier at 27 years of age. He had time to get his teaching degree and although blind he can at least hold a position as Professor Geology at a university. All four children were sent to the University of British Columbia for genetic counselling so they could be informed on their and their children's (should they choose to have some) prospects. The easy answer to some health problems might be as you state, but there are many others. As the parent of an adopted multiply handicapped child, I have first hand knowledge of the incredible odds one set of parents of having two children in a row born with Downs Syndrome. I know it DOES happen! Sincerely G. Taylor Bruce Evans wrote: >As a practising family physician, I'd like to refute this often repeated >myth. Family history can help your doctor to a very limited degree. However >no doctor in his or her right mind would stop looking at a particular >diagnosis simply because there was no family history ofit. Diabetes is such >an example; if someone came to me with any of the symptoms, I'd check it no >matter what. On the other hand, I have hundreds of worried people coming to >me yearly because "someone in my family had diabetess." The worry they >endure and the costs that ensue aren't worth it. My advice to someone with a >family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and exercise >regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. My advice to someone >without a family history of diabetes is watch your weight, eat properly and >exercise regularly, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. As a matter of >fact, that's my advice to everyone. > >Two thirds of us are going to die of heart disease and one third of cancer. >That figure is undisputed no matter what your genealogy. No matter what your >history, you'll cut your risk of death considerably if you use your >seatbelt. Dwelling on your genes simply takes the responsibility away from >the individual. Let's get over this obsession with our health and get on >with genealogy. Trace your family tree for the fun of it not for some >supposed sick reason. > >Bruce > >============================================== >Bruce Evans M.D. >Family Physician and Technical Writer > >Keep your words both soft and tender, because tomorrow you may have to eat >them. > >