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Home News New Mexicans Encouraged to Know Their Family Health History
Paul Rhien
505-470-2290 Office

New Mexicans Encouraged to Know Their Family Health History

November 22, 2017 - Public Relations - Healthy Living

Thanksgiving Day is National Family Health History Day

Knowing and acting on your family health history is an important way to protect your health. Collect your family health history and share it with your doctor at your next visit.The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in encouraging New Mexico families to take time this Thanksgiving holiday to discuss your family’s health history. 

National Family Health History Day was created in hopes of sparking the important conversations that don’t always happen in families but are always useful for understanding health risks and preventing disease in for ourselves and our close relatives.

“With all our technology today, sometimes the best way of preventing future health risks is a simple conversation,” said NMDOH Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “Knowing our family health history is still the gold standard in knowing our personal health risks now and in years to come."

According to the CDC, most people have a family health history of at least one chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. If you have a close family member with a chronic disease, you may be more likely to develop that disease yourself, especially if more than one close relative has (or had) the disease or a family member got the disease at a younger age than usual.

Remember, having a family health history with negative health diagnoses does not mean that you or your family members will definitely have the same illness, but it is important that you talk with your doctor about steps that you can take to lower your chances of having the same illness too.

For more information on National Family Health History Day visit the CDC Family Health History page.


Media Contact

We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact Paul Rhien at 505-470-2290 (Office) with your questions.


Versión en Español

En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.

Los nuevomexicanos son animados a que conozcan su historia de salud familiar