Genealogy Jottings

Lately, genealogy work has been on hold for me because of an age-related health emergency with a relative. I find myself paying close attention to each diagnosis. As parents or grandparents grow older and increasingly frail, their health problems give me a glimpse of what my own health might be like in later years. Beyond the immediate family, death certificates for more distant ancestors or collateral relatives can reveal patterns of illness that run in my family. Heart disease, diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis–these and more have a hereditary component. Knowing the conditions that might affect me enables me to work towards lowering the risk of some conditions and seeking early treatment for others. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to one’s health.

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