Family HistoryHaving a family history means that a person has one or more blood relatives with a certain health problem. A doctor can look at a person's family history to get some idea of the person's risk for that health problem. Blood relatives include relatives who are alive and those who have died. They may be: - First-degree relatives (parents, sisters, brothers, and children).
- Second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandparents).
- Third-degree relatives (first cousins).
Some family histories are stronger than others. How strong a family history is depends on: - How closely related a person is to the relatives with the health problem.
- How many relatives had or have the health problem.
Current as of:
October 13, 2016 Author:
Healthwise Staff Medical Review:
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Rakesh K. Pai, MD - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
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