The Hottest DNA/Ancestry Gift No One Is Talking About

Gathered around the table before dinner, many families observe the tradition of sharing what they are most thankful for, and a third of those say they're most grateful for their health. When it comes time to exchange gifts, whether for birthdays or holidays, some of us may consider giving a genetic test kit as a personalized approach to knowing more about ourselves.

With health and genetic ancestry top of mind for so many, we may be overlooking a life-improving gift that is absolutely free and might bring your family into an interesting conversation. That gift is simple: sharing your health history and asking your family members about their health history may help in knowing the appropriate preventive tests you should consider discussing with your doctor. 

Most diseases have a genetic component. Knowing the health history of your family members gives you vital information for practicing appropriate preventive care that can improve or even save lives. You can start the conversation, but you should first prepare for the conversation.

Diseases Associated with Genetics

Think about diseases known to be top health hazards, such as diabetes and heart disease. Then consider those diseases that may be associated with genetics but that we may not always believe to be associated with genetics. Here are some examples:  

• Lung Cancer: Smokers are at the highest risk for lung cancer, but non-smokers are increasingly being diagnosed with lung cancer, sometimes due to genetics. A family history of lung cancer highly increases one's chance of also being diagnosed with lung cancer. 
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The often-inherited Alpha-1 deficiency can cause COPD. The Alpha-1 protein protects the lungs, and its deficiency can cause COPD. There are available resources with information about getting screened if you have a family history of Alpha-1 deficiency. 
• Bladder cancer: Epidemiological studies have shown a twofold increased risk of bladder cancer among first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, child) of bladder cancer patients. A large population-based twin study estimated a genetic heritability of 31% for bladder cancer.
• Colon cancer: About 1 in 3 people who have colon cancer have a family health history of the disease. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers through screening and can be easily treatable through early detection.
• Pancreatic cancer: Approximately 5-10% of pancreatic cancer cases are hereditary. People with two or more first-degree relatives with pancreatic cancer or a first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before the age of 50 have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer themselves.

Non-Fatal Diseases Can Have Genetic Component  

Even diseases that are not deadly can have a genetic component. Talking about a family struggle with a disease can inspire sufferers to pursue the treatment they may have been putting off. Uterine or ovarian fibroids are a good example. If a woman's mother had fibroids, her risk of having them is about three times higher than the average woman's risk of having fibroids. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate, has been shown to be inherited. A study of men younger than 65 with very enlarged prostate showed that male relatives were four times more likely than other men to need BPH surgery at some point in their lives. For patients without a single-gene cause of kidney stones, the heritability of kidney stone disease is great than 45%.

As James Casey, health activist, and accomplished musician, recently said at an AtlanticLIVE conference focusing on health, he never knew about cancer in his family that could have been prevented with screenings because no one was talking about the issue. Casey works closely with the Colon Cancer Alliance to raise awareness through their # TheyDidn'tSay campaign focused on the issue of openness about sensitive topics, among friends, among family members, and among us all. 

Screening Saves Lives

Finally, we should all bring the conversation around to the important role preventive screenings have played in improving the health of aging populations. The CDC reminds us that knowing is only half the battle. If you have a family history, you should act on it. 

Be brave and encourage others to get screened as appropriate. Be brave and ask your own doctor about scheduling those relevant screens for yourself. When you're sitting around the table with friends and loved ones, share information about your health history that might help you and those you love. The conversation is a gift in itself, and it could be a gift that is lifesaving. 

(Dr. Pracyk's comments are not to be construed as direct medical advice but are meant in the spirit of stimulating discussion.)