Know Your Family Health History — It's a Roadmap of Your Risks

Your family's health history is one of the strongest predictors of your own risks. Heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, autoimmune disorders — many conditions have a genetic component. Ask your parents, grandparents, and siblings about what they've been diagnosed with and at what age. Write it down and share it with your doctor. This isn't about fatalism — it's about knowing where to focus your attention. If colon cancer runs in your family, you might need screening earlier than the general guidelines suggest.