To encourage American families to learn more about their family health history, the Surgeon General declared Thanksgiving as Family Health History Day. Understanding your risk for hereditary illnesses is a first step to managing your health.

Thanksgiving might be the perfect day to broach the subject. Begin the conversation by explaining that learning about your family health history can save lives. Be prepared to write down what you hear or even plan to tape-record the discussion.

Start with a few prepared questions. If you're the family historian, you may already have details to share:

1. What illnesses did our grandparents/great-grandparents have? How old were they when they died? What caused their deaths?
2. Has anyone in the family had learning or developmental disabilities?
3. Has anyone in the family had mental health issues, such as autism, attention deficit hyeractivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia (all which may have genetic links)?
4. Does anyone have chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure?
5. Has anyone had other serious illnesses, such as cancer or stroke?
6. How old were they when they developed these illnesses?

Ask only one question at a time. Be sensitive to relatives' feelings; health is a difficult topic to discuss, and some people may be hesitant to share.

The U.S. Health and Human Services website provides advice including a Family Health History Portrait Tool, which you (and other relatives) could share with your health care provider.