Thanksgiving – Your Family and You
It seems to me these days that as soon as Halloween is done, we get right into Christmas, and, in my humble opinion (abbreviated as IMHO in the current social media parlance), we are skipping one of the best holidays of the year - Thanksgiving. I’ve seen stores displaying Christmas trees, decorations, and ideas for holiday gifts since October ended, and there are now black Friday sales a week prior to black Friday. It has even taken over our conversations during our Thanksgiving get-togethers as we actively discuss all the Christmas gifts that will go, or have already gone, on sale. My goal today is to give you some different reasons why you should look forward to this family holiday. While I can’t eliminate the crazy uncle or, as we get older, the crazy nephew that seems to make everyone uncomfortable, I can offer some suggestions that might make this one of the most important Thanksgiving ever.
It seems really redundant for me to say that you have a lot in common with your relatives, but it’s important to recognize the importance of identifying those commonalities when it comes to your health. While close relatives very often have facial or physical characteristics that quickly identify them as family, there are other, not-so-evident things that could have an important impact on your health. There are habits, both good and bad, that are learned from our parents, even the way we talk and move. My son and I were taking practice swings on the first tee when the two some that were going to play with us introduced themselves. When I introduced my son, one of them said that he could tell he was my son because his golf swing looked like mine. I hadn’t noticed that until he pointed it out, and it amazed and, quite honestly, scared me to think about other things my children may be copying. I know that it might not be the best time to bring up healthy eating habits at what is probably the biggest meal we’ll eat all year, but usually one of your relatives has got into eating clean, reducing sugars, etc. My son, the one with the common golf swing, has taught this old dog some new tricks about not eating processed food and eating foods with clean ingredients. It’s never too late to change and do things that improve your health.
While we should always be open to ways that we can improve our health, I think the best thing we can do during this Thanksgiving is to talk to each other about our health and work to identify common ailments, symptoms, and cures. Three of my siblings suffered detached retinas, so I was able to recognize the symptoms when they occurred with me, and I got a small tear in my retina repaired before it detached. By talking to each other I can guarantee you will find certain illnesses that are common in your family. Maybe even more importantly, you will find the successful ways they dealt with these ailments. Find out the illnesses and cures that exist in your family and spread the word, it could save a life.
There is something else we should recognize. With the advancements in science, there are many DNA markers and other evaluation procedures that can warn us of a greater chance of contracting an illness. There are inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of certain types of cancer. My friend took preventative measures because of the high occurrence of certain cancers in her family and the presence of her family’s common gene mutation. Here’s a link to a page that discusses the background of these types of markers and more information on gene mutations. The occurrence of a certain type of cancer in your family is one of the first indications that you should actively continue the discussion with your doctor, who may recommend tests to identify the risks you might face. We’ve all seen the increase in questions at our doctor’s office about our family’s common health problems, it is something that should continually part of your health discussions. There are continuing discoveries that may have a big impact on the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. A discussion at this Thanksgiving get-together may prove to be an actual lifesaver.
There’s one more thing you might think about discussing with your family. I think it’s an opportunity for the old and wise family member that you to pass on some sage advice that again may prove very valuable. At a recent conference, I talked with an ER nurse who said that the most valuable thing we could have in our wallet or purse is a small card that gives current health information. I couldn’t find a template that fit what I thought it should contain, so I recommend you make your own, including the following information:
Name and address
Emergency contact information
Family doctor’s name and contact information
Current and long-term health conditions
Allergies
Blood type
Current medicines and dosage
Current vaccinations
Any information that someone treating you in an emergency should know
The ER nurse said this information is helpful because it allows the medical staff to treat you quickly and safely. I’m going to put one together and put it in my wallet, folded with the heading, “Thair Phillips’ Medical Information,” prominently positioned so anyone opening my wallet would see the heading.
Be a hero with your family this Thanksgiving. Encourage them to identify common health problems and prepare a personal medical information card.
Best, Thair