ACMG encourages everyone to gather family health history information on National Family History Day

This Thanksgiving is the sixth annual National Family History Day, as declared by the U.S. Surgeon General. The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) encourages everyone to know their family medical history and if they haven't already gathered this potentially life-saving information, to "start the conversation" about family medical history this holiday season when many families gather together in person.

To help people get a better understanding of family health history, why it is so important and how to "get the conversation started," the ACMG has released the second video in its YouTube series called ACMG Genetics & Your Health. These simple and straightforward interviews with genetics experts are designed to give basic information to the public about how genetic discoveries are being translated into better health. The first video in the series, Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing, answered questions about the recent trend for genetic tests to be available to the general public via the Internet. Both of these ACMG Genetics & Your Health videos can be found on YouTube at TheACMGChannel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheACMGChannel.

"Be proactive! Begin preparing now to be an active participant in the personalized medicine movement by learning and recording your family health history," says Judith Benkendorf, MS, CGC, of the American College of Medical Genetics.

Why is family health history so important? Advances in genetics research mean that knowing your family's medical history can help your healthcare provider to predict conditions for which you and your blood relatives may be at risk and help you to take actions to minimize risks and protect your health.

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics