November 23, 2023: Family Health History Day

WHEREAS, a family health history is a written record or diagram of biological relatives, their health conditions and diseases, and age of diagnosis of affected relatives. It is a useful tool in understanding the risk that related individuals will develop the same health condition; and,

WHEREAS, having close biological relatives with health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke can increase disease risk among relatives due to shared genetics, ancestry, and/or living environments and health habits; and,

WHEREAS, heart disease and cancer are among the leading causes of death among Michiganders; knowing family health history can help with the early identification of individuals who are at risk for these and other conditions, or diagnosing them earlier to improve their health outcomes; and,

WHEREAS, hereditary cancer syndromes are more likely to affect several family members across generations and can increase the risk of cancer developing at a young age. Talking to a genetic counselor can help you understand your risk of a hereditary condition, and refer you for genetic testing when appropriate; and,

WHEREAS, knowledge of family health history and talking to a health care provider about that information, along with early screening, genetic counseling and other measures can help identify the risk of many chronic conditions in individuals who are at risk for developing those conditions; and,

WHEREAS, on this day, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services encourages Michigan residents to gather their family health history, and discuss it with their health care provider, to identify their risk of cancer, heart disease, and chronic health conditions, and take appropriate steps to maintain their good health and that of future generations;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 23, 2023, as Family Health History Day in Michigan.