Understanding genetic and environmental risk factors in susceptible persons

Abstract

Most major chronic diseases probably result from environmental factors accumulating over time in genetically susceptible persons. A detailed family history assessment can help identify the subset of the general population with a strong predisposition to certain major diseases. An understanding of the environmental factors promoting disease development will facilitate more effective prevention or delay disease in a targeted susceptible population. To effectively use this growing knowledge in genetics and epidemiology, health professionals need to motivate people to follow sound recommendations for preventing and delaying disease.To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, family history data can help determine those diseases for which persons have the greatest risk. They can then concentrate their primary efforts on those preventive measures that will most likely benefit them.