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14 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | NWADG.COM/YOUATYOURBEST MARCH - ALL NATURAL | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 Family members share a lot of physical characteristics: hair color, eye color, being tall or short. Families also share risks for certain diseases, such as cancer. A family history does not mean you will automatically develop the same disease as your relatives, only that you are at somewhat greater risk. And when it comes to heritable health risks, knowledge is power. "Knowing your family's health history is an important way to take charge of your own health," says Frances A. Radkey, M.D., of Washington Regional's Plaza Internal Medicine. "Being aware that you have a genetic predisposition for a disease means you can take steps to lower your risk," she says. "Lifestyle changes, such as becoming more physically active and quitting smoking, can make a difference." The value of a family health history Family health history can be a powerful screening tool, according to Dr. Radkey. For a complete picture of your heritable health risks, she recommends collecting information from three generations of relatives: • Yourself and your siblings • Your parents, aunts, uncles and cousins • Your grandparents Gather health information Take note of conditions that have affected these relatives, such as: • Any known diseases and mental health issues, including age at diagnosis and treatments • Cause of death and age at death • Lifestyle factors, such as smoking or obesity • Ancestry (people of certain ethnic groups are at higher risk for specific diseases) • Environmental factors (for example, did a relative who died young work in a job that exposed him or her to toxins?) Compile your family health history Fill in as much of the information as you can about yourself and your relatives on the family health history tool of your choice, such as "My Family Health Portrait" offered by the U.S. Surgeon General's office at www.hhs.gov. Then, share the information with your doctor at your next appointment. Ask your doctor about appropriate lifestyle changes, screening tests and other preventive measures to reduce your risk for heritable diseases. "My Family Health Portrait," one of the most widely used family health history tools, does not keep a government record of your health information; it only provides the software for organizing your information. You can print the family history document or complete the form electronically. "Saving the information online makes it easy to update as your family's health information changes over time," Dr. Radkey says. "Plus, it allows other family members to use the data you collect as a starting point to create their own family history." The effect of family history on your health Plaza Internal Medicine provides primary care for adults SPECIAL TO NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Washington Regional's Plaza Internal Medicine recently welcomed Frances A. Radkey, M.D. Dr. Radkey earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she also completed an internal medicine residency. Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Radkey has been providing quality care throughout the region for more than 13 years. She joins Dr. David Ratcliff at Plaza Internal Medicine, providing primary care services for adults and helping patients manage their chronic health conditions. Plaza Internal Medicine is located at William L. Bradley Medical Plaza, 3 E. Appleby Road, Ste. 301, in Fayetteville. Appointments are available by calling 479.404.1230. For more information, go to wregional.com. Plaza Internal Medicine is in the William L. Bradley Medical Plaza located across from Washington Regional Medical Center. It's all relative: Frances A. Radkey, M.D.