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HomeHealth TopicBlack Health and Wellness
02:46

The Importance of Knowing Your Family History: Tips for Black Americans

Knowing which conditions run in your family can empower you to know your risk.

Lauren Smith, MAMera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Published on January 31, 2024

Many health conditions run in families. The best way to know if something runs in your family is to ask your family members directly. It can be uncomfortable to ask your family members about their health, but an open conversation about family history can empower you to know your risk. 

In this video, learn tips for gathering information about your family medical history, according to Karla Robinson, MD, Medical Editor at GoodRx Health, and Robert Robinson, III, MD, Internist in Charlotte, NC.

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Additional Medical Contributors (2)
  • Karla Robinson, MDKarla Robinson, MD is a medical editor for GoodRx and is a licensed, board-certified family physician. She received her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed her training at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.
    • Robert C. Robinson, III, MDRobert C. Robinson, III, MD is a board-certified, licensed internal medicine physician with almost two decades of experience and a focus in hospitalist medicine.

      References

      American Medical Association. (n.d.). Collecting a family history.

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Family health history and diabetes.

      View All References (2)

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Family health history of heart disease.

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Family health history: The basics.

      GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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