The Life-Saving Secrets in Your Family Tree

Wall Street Journal (online) - 6/11/2009

When gathering family health histories, stay alert for patterns that may signal undiagnosed conditions, such as a history of unexplained sudden deaths. Among other things, this can signal heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle. Repeat miscarriages may be a sign of a chromosomal condition that, while not obvious in a parent, can result in a fetus that isn't viable. Several Web sites can help people put together a family history. The Office of the Surgeon General recently relaunched its online family history tool, available at familyhistory.hhs.gov. Researchers at Ohio State have a tool for assessing risk of heart disease and cancer at: https://familyhealthlink.osumc.edu. Click here for complete article.