Family Health Pedigree, Research Paper Example

Family Health Pedigree

This family pedigree is a representation of the different dynamics of my family. While I am an international student, my siblings have married internationally and added different dynamics to our family outside of China. This pedigree describes not only my grandparents but also my siblings and their families. Without mentioning, my grandparents had several more children, on my father’s side he has 7 aunts and uncle, and on my mother’s side she has 4 additional sisters, and 1 brother. In total, I have 7 aunts and 5 uncles, half in which has a predestined gene of cancer. As evident in the textbook, gathering information on my entire family was hard work to do. So all the health information that I could gather was placed within the pedigree.

The first relationship of the pedigree is my grandparents from my father’ side. My grandparents, Cho-Long Yao and Tai Yao were married for over 50 years until the passing of my grandfather Tai Yao in 1976. Cho-Long was born in 1925, and her parents had a history of heart disease and cancer. My grandmother married my grandfather in 1944 and had my father in 1956. In 1995, my grandmother developed breast cancer and has undergone chemotherapy twice. She is a breast cancer survivor; however the gene does run within the family. My grandfather Tai Yao was born in 1919 and had a long history of heart problems that plagued him throughout his life after he turned 35. My mother’s grandparents were Liu Yang and Li Yang, they were married for 46 years until my grandfather succumbed to lung cancer. He was born in 1919 and met my grandmother in 1943, and soon married 6 months later. While my grandmother is still alive, she does suffer from diabetes, although manageable now with a strict diet, it has carried on throughout my family. My parents, Bo and Bai Yao have been married for 38 years and counting. My father Bo was born in 1956, and my mother was born in 1960. My mother is the healthy of the two as she has always strived to take care of her body, so does not have any serious health problems. Unlike my father who suffers from high blood pressure, it can be attributed to his fondness for occasional drinking and unhealthy diet of red meats. Including me, my parents have a total of four children, with two sons and two daughters. I am the youngest of the four, who are all married except for me. My older sister, Chi-Yao has been married twice, born in 1976, she has two children.  Bo born in 2000 and Zheng born in 1995. Chi-Yao’s ex-husband and father of her two children is overweight, and has a history of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity in his family. Married in 1994, later divorced in 2001, Chi-Yao later remarried in 2002 to Zhang Li, who has allergies. Chi-Yao herself does not suffer from any serious illnesses, while her son, Bo suffers from allergies.  My brother Li Yao, is 28 and married American Karen Buckman, whom they have 3 children with. Li Yao suffers from asthma, and has early signs of heart disease if does not take care of his diet. Karen herself suffers from Lupus and my niece and nephews, Kevin, Taylor, and Justin are all young and have allergies and eczema (complication of allergies)

My second sister, Zhi Yao-Huffman, who is 24 suffers from type-2 diabetes, is newly married, and newly a mother, with 1 year old, Di, who is too young to notice any health concerns.  Her husband however does have severe allergies that keeps them from having pets inside their homes, and could also be a problem for Di as she gets older. I on the other hand is the youngest of my siblings and like my other siblings have allergies, and acute asthma that does spring up when there is a change in the weather. Knowing that my grandparents have suffered from cancers, it is a strong possibility that I and my siblings will have complications down the road as we get older. Knowing the family history is a crucial aspect that is useful in diagnosing, preparation, and prevention of some health problems that can be passed down through generations.

Patterns of Illness

As stated earlier, there are patterns of illness that can be seen within the family pedigree. In just about every family, there are several medical conditions that are normal within the family that include, cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, asthma, mental illnesses, heart blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, birth defects, and other illnesses. There are other behavioral problems that can be passed down that include, smoking, drinking, dieting, and exercise problems. The patterns of illness usually run in the first-degree relatives that include; parents, children, brothers, and sisters. (GHR, n.d) According to GHR, “A particular disorder might be described as “running in a family” if more than one person in the family has the condition” (GHR, n.d). This is true for our family as more than one has asthma, allergies, and diabetes. These disorders affect various people within the family, which can be seen as gene mutations that are inherited. As said in the textbook, multifactorial disorders, “the majority of health conditions caused by interactions among one or more genes and the environment” (Teague, 2009, pg., 9). There are certain conditions that can also be run within the family but are the product of environmental factors such as the case for diets, and other social habits.

Other patterns of illness that are clear within the family include the fondness for drinking and gambling that my grandfather, brother, and father share. These are more environmental factors that have been passed down, however, they can be cured, unlike most genetic disorders. Some patterns of illness are still yet unclear within the family is breast cancer and lung cancer that has affected the lives of my grandparents. Also, patterns in heart disease that affects my father and my older brother. While asthma and allergies are clearly passed on, there are still some diseases that can affect the lives of my nieces and nephews thanks in part to their parents such as, Lupus, Diabetes, obesity, and other illnesses.

Special Health Concerns

Some of the most serious health concerns that need to be watched is the predisposed diagnosis of cancer. Cancer has become a serious concern within families as it can be caused by a number of factors. These risks for cancer are exaggerated by lifestyle factors that include smoking, drinking, obesity, and other risks that can influence cancer. My grandmother and my grandfather both suffered from cancer, breast and lung. Breast cancer is a serious illness, although she is a breast cancer survivor she went into remission twice, and her own mother succumbed to breast cancer at a young age. GHR reports that, “Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply without control or order to form a tumor” (GHR, 2007) According to research, there is a small percentage of breast cancer in families, and hereditary breast cancer tends to occur in age. This may be apparent case that my sisters will have to watch out for in a few years. Reports also include that men are susceptible to breast cancer as well. In the case of lung cancer, it is also a major health concern. According to Cancer. Gov. only about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are inhered. (Cancer, 2013). Lung cancer is a major health concern because it is influenced by several risks factors that include smoking a bad habit developed by my father and brother, and resulted in the death of my grandfather. Other health concerns include diabetes which is a problem with my sister, and heart disease that can easily be avoided by changing up the lifestyle of smoking, drinking, and eating fatty foods.

Modify Lifestyle Behaviors

Modifying lifestyle behaviors is very essential, as the risk factors that are displayed within the family pedigrees are increasing the risks to getting cancers, heart attacks, diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses. The yellow highlighted squares show which person has smoking, drinking, and other habits that put them at serious risks for various problems. The green outlines boxes indicate behavioral issues that can be counteracted through guidance, therapy, and other actions. I have asthma and allergies, and some of the issues that I have to change up in my lifestyle include, dieting, and abstaining from certain activities, and other modifications. Changes in diet such as eating more fruits and vegetables can help with concerns in obesity, and help with asthma. Other modifications to behaviors include, giving up smoking and drinking, these will lower the risks of cancers, diabetes, and other illnesses.

Screening Tests

The screening tests that I and my family have partaken in includes heart pressure, blood screening for heart disease, and some forms of cancer. My mother and my sisters have both received mammograms that check for early signs for breast cancer. Other screening tests include tests for obesity and diabetes. The screening for diabetes is what helped my sister found out she had Type 2 diabetes and that my brother is more likely to developed high blood pressure and heart disease. Screening tests are needed to help find diseases early, and then can be easier to treat. Screening tests have been immensely important in my family, with the diagnosis of cancers,  my family takes screening seriously especially my siblings that want to live long enough for their children.

When planning this pedigree, I was able to consult my family doctor as well as, and was able to get a complete physical. My physician recommended the usual water intake, along with fruits and vegetables in order to keep down the risks of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Other recommendations are that I come in for screening at least every year to check my blood pressure, since high blood pressure is prevalent within my family. I need to abstain from smoking which is something that I do not do. More importantly to continue to moderate my intake of red meat and alcohol. These recommendations will help me maintain a healthy lifestyle, and be more cautious in making certain lifestyle changes.

References

Breast Cancer. (2007). Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/breast-cancer

Heredity and Cancer. (2013). American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/geneticsandcancer/heredity-and-cancer

Inheriting Genetic Conditions. (n.d). Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/inheritance?show=all

Teague, Michael. (2009). Your Health Today: Choices in a Changing Society. McGraw-Hill 4th Edition.