Some genetic tests branded a waste of money Dec 4, 2007
In many cases, family medical history is a better indication of risk of cancer or heart disease, said Stuart Hogarth, a researcher at the institute for science and society at Nottingham University, England. "Most scientists believe we need more research before we move to clinical testing," he said. (Hindu)
Get the backstory on genetic diseases Nov 29, 2007
And while being a descendent of a man who could fight a bear empty-handed makes for more intriguing cocktail chatter than a history of a genetic disorder, I'd much rather have a family medical history. It's much more important in the long run. (Daily Iowan, IA)
Largest study to investigate risk factors of autism to begin ... Nov 18, 2007
Factors that will be studied include family medical history; genetics; and socio-demographic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Study information will be obtained by conducting interviews and exams, reviewing medical records, collecting cheek swabs, and blood and hair sampling, according to Pilar Bernal, MD, medical director of Kaiser Permanente's Regional Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders. (News-Medical.net)
Personalized genomes go mainstream Oct 31, 2007
Commercial personal genome services could help people to understand more about their family medical history. Strauss/Curtis/Corbis. (Nature News Service)
1 size may not fit all Oct 30, 2007
Dr. Imperiale is the lead investigator of the Risk Assessment in Colon Cancer Study, which is investigating whether using easily accessible factors such as age, family medical history, race, smoking history, body mass index, and other candidate factors can help determine who is and who is not at risk. That study also focuses on whether more sophisticated tools such as blood tests that look at genes, proteins or other markers of risk, would be effective. (EurekAlert!)
More of this story Oct 23, 2007
"Under Alabama's safe haven law, a percent can take a newborn baby who is unharmed and is not more than three days old to a hospital that has an emergency room and leave the child with hospital staff,' Commissioner Walley explained. "Hospital staff will take the baby with no questions asked, but may inquire about the circumstances of the infant's birth or family medical history. "If the baby is unharmed, there will be no prosecution of the parent for child abandonment.After the baby is examined... (Atmore Advance, AL)
Alcohol and breast cancer: Weigh your risk Oct 6, 2007
The short answer is, you have to judge for yourself, based on your health and your family medical history. Keep in mind that heart disease is the leading killer of women; in fact, women are six times as likely to die of heart disease as breast cancer. (CNN -- Health)
Anthrax drill unites agencies, shows potential problems Sep 27, 2007
People were also to know their family medical history, to note any medications they were on or give any conditions like allergies. High school students followed a path around the fair grounds to the domestic arts building. (Carthage (Hancock County) Journal Pilot, IL)
Time to stop lying Aug 2, 2007
This not just some abstract right, it is a practical issue: people may need to know their family medical history, for example, or to understand what may otherwise be inexplicable physical or personality traits. But I do not think that it needs to be justified: we do not have to explain why or prove that we are entitled to know the truth about our own lives. (Guardian Unlimited)
Official Says AIDS Cases Outpace Treatment Jul 23, 2007
It's important to discuss with your doctor family medical history and prior pregnancies, as well as proper nutrition and exercise. On The Side. (KCRA 3, CA)
Companies focus on executives' health Jun 24, 2007
Covalciuc said the Mayo program includes an extensive investigation of a patient's family medical history, and it stresses preventive measures. "It is important to understand a patient's lifestyle," Covalciuc said. (AZCentral -- Business)
New genetic tests era raises insurance fear Jun 8, 2007
However, also writing in the journal, Soren Holm, professor of ethics at Cardiff Law School, argues that the tests should be treated no differently to the questions people are asked about their family medical history on applying for insurance. "Genetic information is not special. It is not inherently more specific, predictive, or private than other kinds of health information," he writes. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
Know family history for a healthier future Jun 6, 2007
Family gatherings such as reunions and holidays are an ideal time for people to collect family medical history to help identify patterns of conditions and diseases among family members ... Despite its medical significance and usefulness, family medical history remains an underutilized tool for health care by patients and their physicians, says W. Gregory Feero, senior adviser with the National Human Genome Research Institute ... Since the average doctor's visit lasts about 20 minutes, you need... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Resume mistakes May 22, 2007
Your personal life is just that -- personal: One candidate included that he spent summers on his family's yacht in Grand Cayman, while another included family medical history. Hiring managers don't need to know personal information such as your waistline measurement or where you spend your summer vacations. (CNN -- US)
Adoptees need to know medical history May 12, 2007
So 20 or 30 years go by and, as far as I know, the adoption agency doesn't ask, "Hey, can you update your medical information?" Not knowing your family medical history can make an adopted person like a walking time bomb. Example: the natural father has eight siblings. (Newsday -- Business)
Library tries to stop No. 1 killer May 1, 2007
However, age, gender and family medical history are uncontrollable. Micalizzi said she will discuss the classic symptoms of a heart attack and then delve deeper into the differences in the symptoms experienced by women and men. (New Britain Herald, CT)
Hospitals craft packages for wealthy executives Apr 13, 2007
Some are of more modest means who set aside the money because they're worried about their family medical history. "My fondest hope would be that insurance would recognize the power of prevention, but so far that hasn't happened," Abrams said. (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
Healthy coffee lovers, drink up! Mar 22, 2007
Participants completed detailed questionnaires on their diets, including coffee drinking, as well as other lifestyle habits, education and family medical history. Over the next 11 years, the researchers found, light coffee drinkers were more likely to develop high blood pressure than either non-drinkers or heavier consumers, with other health factors considered. (CNN)
Spotting Sudden Death Risk In Athletes Mar 16, 2007
New guidelines issued by the American Heart Association recommend asking young athletes a series of questions about their personal and family medical history as well as performing a physical exam to reveal their risk of sudden death ... The 12-step screening process includes eight personal and family medical history questions and a brief physical examination. (CBS News)
Checklist May Help Cut Sudden Death in Athletes Mar 16, 2007
The recommended screening process includes 12 questions about personal and family medical history and a physical examination. Doctors should ask questions about. (Health-Finder)
Events for anyone affected by cancer Mar 14, 2007
A question-and-answer period and a segment on creating a family medical history are planned. (261-3077). (Anchorage Daily News)
12-step screening may help reduce sudden death in young athletes Mar 14, 2007
The screening includes 12 questions about personal and family medical history and a physical examination to uncover aspects of a potential athletes health that could signal a cardiovascular problem. Personal history. (EurekAlert!)
Trim your BMI and insurance bill Mar 1, 2007
Although life insurers typically consider lifestyle, weight, age and family medical history when writing policies, Phoenixs BMI discount is unique. More than 140 people have signed up for the program and about 30 have been approved, said the Hartford-based company said. (MSNBC -- Health)
Kaiser Permanente Study Hopes To Find Factors Behind A Range Of Diseases Feb 16, 2007
The initial survey will ask questions about their background, health history, lifestyle and habits, and family medical history. Later, those who enroll in the study and give written consent will be asked to provide blood or saliva samples that can be used to obtain genetic information. (MEDLINEplus)
Consortium looks to expand services Feb 14, 2007
The consortium, as a whole, has also been working on a one-stop file folder organization, called family folders that hold all important documentation for family records including identification, family medical history, insurance, developmental history and more. The family folders are sold at less than cost at 10 for individual families. (Havre Daily News, MT)
Heart defect hasn't beaten Freeport boy Feb 3, 2007
She said her physician insisted it be done, given her family medical history. Julie said her grandmother lost a child at three days old and it was possible Brady's defect was genetic. (Freeport Journal-Standard, IL)
Preventative maintenance for your body Jan 30, 2007
A complete family medical history - something only you can provide - is a vital element of this plan. Common diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and more rare ailments such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, can run in families. (Raleigh Triangle Business Journal, NC)
Reward offered for mother of abandoned baby Jan 30, 2007
They said they may be better able to treat the infant if they have some family medical history. Medical personnel believe the baby, who was wrapped in a towel, was found a few hours after being born. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
Past imperfect: Knowing your family medical history can save your life Jan 20, 2007
If you make no other health resolution for the new year, you should at least make one: to compile your family medical history. Knowing your family medical history can play an important part on how your physician can treat your case, says Connie Wessels, a registered nurse and heart failure case manager for Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa ... Along with improving your health, knowing your family medical history can lessen any fears you might have. (Quad-Cities Online)
Getting Older, Looking Younger Jan 15, 2007
com, the test takes into account family medical history, cholesterol levels, exercise and diet habits, among other things, and provides a personalized plan for improving your health. It's based on the idea that the body grows old based on three things--the aging of the cardiovascular and the immune systems, and aging caused by accidents such as fractures and broken bones, and environmental factors such as sun damage, most of which is preventable. (Forbes)
Get The Most Out Of Your Annual Physical Jan 10, 2007
The opinion there runs more toward periodic screening for specific medical problems for which you're at elevated risk due to your personal and family medical history, or other factors, such as your age ... If the doctor is new to you, get your medical records in order, including your family medical history. (CBS News -- Early Show)
Health data goes high tech Jan 7, 2007
Don't forget to include information only you can provide, such as family medical history, over-the-counter drugs, exercise and diet habits. 4. (USA Today -- News)
Manage headaches while pregnant Jan 5, 2007
Based on this information, your past and present state of health, and your family medical history, your doctor will try and establish whether the drug is likely to pose a risk to you and/or your baby. If the drug is known to cause birth defects, or the risk is unknown, your obstetrician should check the status of the fetus using ultrasound. (iAfrica.com)
Scoliosis Detection Dec 14, 2006
If you have reason to believe your child is at risk for developing scoliosis, (such as through family medical history), by all means make a habit of checking their backs especially following a growth spurt. Growth spurts can naturally make curvatures more pronounced and therefore easier to spot. (Suite101.com)
Breast cancer link to diet rich in meat Nov 14, 2006
Dr Cho checked to ensure that causes of breast cancer such as obesity, smoking, alcohol and family medical history were not the real causes of the increased risks. Telegraph, London. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Genealogy used to obtain family medical history Nov 7, 2006
Besides finding out basic information such as names and family stories, the Lyons also were interested in their heritage in regards to their family medical history. Through death certificates, they were able to trace a history of heart disease in Gary's mother's side of the family and cancer on Sandy's side of the family. (Cadillac News, MI)
Nuclear dump opponent urges health monitoring Nov 1, 2006
"What I'd like people to do is after they've sat down, and it takes about half an hour to record your family medical history, is then to take a photograph of your family and post that either through the website or deliver it into my office and if we get a large number of people who have done this then we'll put it together as an exhibition," she said. ABC Top Stories. (ABC News Online, Australia -- Environment)
Eating too much bread increases kidney cancer risk Oct 22, 2006
They matched two controlled subjects to each case by gender, age range, and location, and collected sociodemographic information, anthropomorphic measures, lifestyle habits, and personal and family medical history from each participant. They also administered a 78-item food frequency questionnaire which comprised of questions about the average weekly consumption for each item over the previous two years, and statistically analyzed the information gathered. (South Asian Women's Forum)
Eating bread 'raises cancer risk' Oct 21, 2006
They then looked at their personal and family medical history, lifestyle and diet over the past two years. The scientists were trying to discover which foods increased the risk of renal cell carcinoma. (BBC News -- Health)
High bread consumption is associated with increased risk of renal cell carcinoma Oct 20, 2006
The researchers collected sociodemographic information, anthropomorphic measures, lifestyle habits and personal and family medical history from each participant. They also administered a 78-item food frequency questionnaire which asked about the average weekly consumption for each item over the previous two years. (EurekAlert!)
Sedation Case Dentist's Attorneys Lay Out Defense Oct 19, 2006
They accuse her of failing to disclose important family medical history. Two days ago, there was no clue as to how planned to get back his license to practice dentistry. (CBS2Chicago.com, IL)
Newborn becomes state's eighth safe haven baby Oct 19, 2006
The mother provided family medical history. In return, she asked that the baby's gender not be released, officials said. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Beyond the Arc: Are Gators too focused? Oct 12, 2006
When Gathers died, the question was raised if elite athletes were tested enough for conditions that could lead to an SCD. Ten years after Gathers death, indicated that more than 850 NCAA schools required formal screening with a family medical history and physical exam before participating in varsity intercollegiate sports. In 1997, the American Heart Association issued guidelines for SCD screening. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Mended hearts Oct 9, 2006
For one thing, the lack of knowledge about his family medical history bothered him. In doctors' offices, he hesitated over forms and thought, "I don't know if there's heart disease or what." Even the thought of looking, though, made him feel disloyal to the couple who raised him. (Orlando Sentinel)
Officials, students dedicate new fitness equipment Oct 7, 2006
Her family medical history includes all three. "Many people have a number of excuses about why they can't live a healthy lifestyle. However, no one has a valid excuse with the resources available to us today," she said. (Brookhaven Daily Leader, MS)
Heart Check May Save Athletes' Lives Oct 4, 2006
That guideline includes personal and family medical history, but it doesn't call for routine electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG). But in Italy's Veneto region, ECG heart screening became mandatory in 1982 for all would-be athletes aged 12-35. (CBS News)
Cure for the Blues Oct 3, 2006
Individuals enroll online and provide their personal health information, including family medical history, data such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and any health concerns that may not show up in their medical records, such as depression or a nagging pain. Once a certain number of individuals from a group (such as a company) are enrolled in the program, BCBSKC aggregates individuals' health information to identify common health problems within the group's population. (CIO)
Quiz May Predict Genetic Colon Cancer Sep 27, 2006
The 22-question quiz focuses on personal and family medical history ... The 22-question quiz, described in The Journal of the American Medical Association, focuses on personal and family medical history. (CBS News)
Her Body: Women's Health Check Aug 16, 2006
Your doctor should ask about your personal and family medical history in order to find out if you are at high risk for conditions like heart disease, breast cancer or thyroid disease. You should also be ready with a list of any new symptoms or physical problems that have developed since your previous visit. (MSNBC -- Health)
Summary of President Bush's Medical History Aug 2, 2006
The President benefits from a "low" to "very low" (favorable) coronary artery disease risk profile with a favorable family medical history, absence of modifiable risk factors; superior fitness, favorable CAD markers (e. g. CRP, lipids) and functional studies ("stress echocardiogram"), and "minimal/mild" coronary artery calcification noted on anatomic study (coronary artery computed tomography, 2004). (Newsmax)
Healthy teamwork Jun 23, 2006
Have your family medical history ready, such as information on diseases of immediate family members (parents, siblings, grandparents). Ask your doctor if there is anything you can do to improve your health without medication, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising, eating a low-fat diet full of fruits and vegetables and limiting alcohol. (The Daily Reflector)
Woman Discovers Co-Worker Is Her Mother Jun 21, 2006
She began her search for her biological mother late last year after a blood test showed she had a high cholesterol level, which raised questions about her family medical history. A doctor told her she needed to look into whether she had a family history of heart disease or other illnesses. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
How to get your man to the doctor Jun 17, 2006
Peter made me," she said. Luckily for Carol, Peter wore her down until she agreed to go. A colonoscopy detected cancerous cells. And without treatment, her doctors said, she would have died within six months. She is now recovering. "Now I'm the one that sets up the appointments every year for the physical," Abreu said proudly. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PHYSICAL Assuming men are otherwise healthy, physical exams should include the following elements, according to Dr. Larry Fields, president of the... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Fraying marital bond Jun 17, 2006
However, she went through early menopause, and family medical history precludes her from taking any hormone replacement therapy. We've been intimate four times in the last five years. (Korea Herald, Korea)
Checkup is best prescriptionfor preventing ... (Jen Waters) Jun 6, 2006
Then, after researching their family medical history, they can discuss the procedures with their doctors. Some of the tests in his book include blood glucose tests for type 2 diabetes, blood tests for HIV and the c-reactive protein test for coronary heart disease risk. (Washington Times, DC)
Your Parents May Give You High Blood Pressure Jun 6, 2006
These individuals provided information on family medical history and completed two 24-hour ambulatory BP sessions. The investigators found that men with two hypertensive parents had higher blood pressure readings throughout the day and night than men whose parents had normal blood pressure. (MEDLINEplus)
Sperm donor passed rare disease to 5 kids May 20, 2006
Moreover, the family medical history that sperm donors must provide would not necessarily reveal such a defect, especially if the man is only a carrier and has no symptoms ... American Society of Reproductive Medicine guidelines require anonymous sperm donors to provide a full family medical history going back at least three generations. (MSNBC -- Health)
Woman describes ordeals in egg donation process May 19, 2006
Even an intensive family medical history is performed. Also, any potential donor with any sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, are rejected. (The UCSD Guardian, CA)
Can a test tell you when you might die? May 9, 2006
Other critics warn the test doesn t take into account other important risk factors like family medical history, blood pressure and cholesterol. Take the Mortality Test. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
House backs bill to require colleges to fund textbook purchases earlier Apr 26, 2006
The bill, which heads to the governor, requires coverage when a mammogram shows heterogeneous or dense breast tissue as defined by the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System, or when a women is considered at a higher risk for breast cancer because of family medical history or her own medical history. Establish a new crime of assault on a sports official. (Journal Inquirer, CT)
All in the family Apr 26, 2006
In building your family medical history, most experts say including three generations is a good rule of thumb. Record major medical information for your grandparents (maternal and paternal), your parents, and that of your siblings as well as yourself. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Estrogen Therapy Boosts Clotting Risk in Postmenopausal Women Apr 12, 2006
When weighing the decision to use hormone therapy, women need to take into account their personal medical history and their family medical history, as well as the risks and benefits of the treatment, added Dr. Nieca Goldberg, chief of women's cardiac care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and author of The Women's Healthy Heart Program. "If a woman is really experiencing significant symptoms that are inhibiting her quality of life, we try to use the safest effective recommendations," she... (MEDLINEplus)
Virus may cause prostate cancer, study hints Feb 25, 2006
The researchers are planning a comprehensive "epidemiological" study to look at the association between sexual history, personal and family medical history, viral infection, and prostate cancer. If the XMRV virus does cause prostate cancer, it could be a therapeutic target for drugs or a vaccine. (Reuters UK -- Health)
Class Certification in Fla. Prempro Suit Reversed Feb 16, 2006
Their level of risk for certain diseases sometimes attributed to Prempro would vary depending on drug dosage, length of time taking the drug, obesity and family medical history, Wyeth argued. The plaintiffs argued, however, that variations among the plaintiffs should not defeat class certification, because the varying levels of exposure and other health risk factors did not alter the outcome of the 2002 study which found that Prempro increased the risk of certain health conditions. (Law.com)
