The branches of your family tree bear much more than the years your grandparents were born. Knowing your family’s health history is an important factor in your health status. Some health conditions are more likely to be passed from generation to generation. Your family tree can shed light on your risks for these 5 conditions:
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Black people are twice as likely to die from heart disease. If you have a family member that has hypertension, high cholesterol, or that died due to heart disease, you are more at risk for heart disease. Bad habits such as smoking and unhealthy eating habits that were taught among family members further increase your risk of heart disease.
2. Type II Diabetes
When your body can no longer regulate your blood glucose level due to insulin resistance, type II diabetes develops. Black people are almost 80% more likely to have diabetes than Caucasians. If your
