Science

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

A resurgence of AIDS among young men nationally is raising alarm bells – but not in the King County area.  Local health officials say outreach efforts here could be a model for how the rest of the country can keep the AIDS epidemic under control. The surprising and grim picture emerged earlier this week from the federal Centers for Disease Control, as we head into World AIDS Day on Dec. 1st. The CDC says more than a quarter of all new HIV infections now come from young men between ages 13 and 24. Most of those are African-American men, particularly in the south and northeast. A separate CDC study finds that most new infections are spread among “men who have sex with men.”HIV testing -- still the answer? One reason the infection is spreading could be that most young men have never had an HIV test, according to the new CDC data. That means young men don’t know their status or that they may be spreading the virus. And, the survey found that it's common for them to have multiple sexual partners."One part of the price of our success [in controlling the AIDS epidemic] has been a reversion to higher risk behaviors," says Dr. Matt Golden, HIV/AIDS director for Public Health Seattle & King County.However, in King County, he says, the trends are much more encouraging.“We promote testing very heavily.  I think it’s very visible in King County,” says Golden, “So, I think our target population is aware.”The county has maintained HIV awareness campaigns in clinics, bath-houses and schools -- even though budgets have been tight. That’s not necessarily the case across the country. Public Health Seattle & King Count also heavily promotes condoms.HIV-testing matters more than ever – because if you're infected and get treated, the virus can be suppressed. Just last week, a federal task force recommended that doctors should incorporate HIV tests into a routine checkup, just like a cholesterol test.“When you go to see your doctor, he or she should test you at least once over the course of the  time they are providing you medical care, just as a routine,” says Golden.If you happen to be in a high-risk group, such as young gay men, that’s even more critical.King County accounts for about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in Washington. And 75% of those infections affect gay or bisexual men. Public Health is working with its sister agencies in Pierce and Snohomish Counties to expand their awareness campaigns.Gay men are more susceptible to infection in part because of biology -- the virus spreads much more easily via anal sex than vaginal sex, says Golden.“The increase that we're seeing and published previously are really being driven by the very significant increases that are occurring in gay and bisexual men, especially young men who have sex with men.  And over the past few years, we have been very concerned about the significant increases we have seen in young, black men who have sex with men," said Kevin Fenton of the CDC in a news conference this week. Fenton says the data point to an important role played by the stigma of being openly gay that's still common in many communities. Extras:The federal CDC created a downloadable, printer-friendly Fact-Sheet about the spread of HIV among young men.

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."

If you’re looking for a conversation starter this Thanksgiving, the country’s top public health doctor has a suggestion – find out about your family’s health history.Talking about diseases might not be your family's ideal topic for a holiday – but US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says one approach is to start very general."If you start at the dinner table talking about what things run in families, you can take it from there and go deeper later on," she says. After dinner, you might sit down with a parent or uncle or grandparent, and get some details.Dr. Benjamin spoke by phone from her hometown on Alabama’s gulf coast, where she used to run a rural clinic. She says she's been trying to collect family history for years, and she always learns something new."One of my grandfathers, for example, they always said he died of an enlarged heart. We didn’t know what an enlarged heart was -- nobody knew. I eventually found out it was congestive heart failure," she says.Beyond strokes and cancers, there are eye problems or mental issues that might be passed on, or skip generations. That type of family history can help a doctor customize his or her advice.Getting started ... If you’re going to do this, it really helps to have a computer handy – because the Surgeon General's office teamed up with Microsoft to create a website where you can fill in the blanks and end up with a quality health-history in about 15-20 minutes.The data gets saved to your computer, and you can always add to it later.---From the Surgeon General's office:"An Internet-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, lets anyone create a portrait of the family's health history.  It is available on the Surgeon General’s site at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov."How can I encourage other family members to share their health information?"Privacy is important, and no one should be forced to share personal health information if they don't wish to. But knowledge of family health histories may be spread over different family members, so sharing can help create the best product. Maybe the best way to encourage sharing is to help make it clear how this information can help health care practitioners provide better care and make more informed decisions."What security precautions should I take when I share information with relatives?"Since the information that is aggregated by the FHH tool is personal health information, you should take reasonable precautions when sending this information to relatives. You should encrypt the information before sending it via email. If you don't have access to encrypted email; it may be better to transfer the information on a CD or memory stick; either in person or by regular mail."What if my knowledge about my family health history is incomplete or imprecise?"Very few people are likely to have detailed and precise information about their family members/ health histories. But any information can be helpful. Once you have completed your history, it is important to talk about it with your health care practitioner. He or she may be able to help provide perspective, or even provide more detail based on the knowledge you bring."