Like many of you, I visited family graves during Memorial Day. 

As we visited the graves of my dad and other family members who fought in World War II, I shared memories with my family. 

My great uncle served in World War II (and suffered lasting consequences which took his life). He was buried near his wife and their four infants. 

They had lost all four babies back in the late 1930's and early 1940's due to the HR factor. 

Cleveland Clinic says:

Rh incompatibility happens when a woman who's RH-negative is pregnant with a baby who is RH-positive. The woman's immune system reacts to this difference and makes antibodies. The antibodies then attack the baby's red blood cells (because the woman's body thinks the RH positive blood cells are an invader

It's important to know your blood type BEFORE you become pregnant. If not treated, babies can have hemolytic anemia, liver failure, jaundice or heart failure, which can result in a stillbirth.  

Now they have a treatment if the mother and father have different blood types (like 0+ and A-). Back then, that wasn't available and my great aunt lost all 4 of her babies shortly after birth. 

As we visited other families, I shared any other medical information that I knew about them.  

Time to switch to talk about medical conditions that run in families.  

Inheriting Asthma 

In January of 2000, Son #2 was hospitalized - and THEN diagnosed with asthma. I had a feeling he had asthma after I read a magazine article about asthma (yes, I'm that old.) 

But the pediatrician said he "just had a virus".

Son #2 seemed to always get sicker than his older brother, and his colds lasted a lot longer than his brother. He would cough for a month after a having a cold. 

It just seemed like something was off. Now I know I was right to suspect asthma. 

After his first hospitalization, we were at a family party and my in-laws all started sharing stories about how their kids had asthma and had been also been hospitalized. 

What??

It would have been nice to know that there is a family history of allergies and asthma! 

More family members diagnosed with asthma   

As I started to learn about asthma, I realized that I probably had asthma my entire life. I had all of the signs and symptoms, but thought that coughing all the time was normal. I also remembered that my mom coughed all the time - as did my siblings. 

I went to an asthma specialist and was diagnosed with asthma in my 30's. So apparently allergies and asthma run on my side of the family too.

More family members diagnosed with asthma  

A couple of years later, my young daughter starting showing signs and symptoms of asthma and was also hospitalized - and then diagnosed with asthma.  

And not to feel left out, my oldest son was also diagnosed with asthma. 

In my family of 5, all 5 have allergies, 4 have asthma, and 2 have food allergies.  

There are numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, etc who all have allergies and asthma. 

Talk to your relatives 

If you are having family parties or reunions this summer, talk to your family about medical conditions. 

It's important to know what medical conditions run in the family. 

Heart problems? Cancer? High cholesterol? Cystic fibrosis? Sickle cell?

In our case, asthma doesn't just run in our family - it gallops! 🐎

Knowing that a medical problem runs in the family can help you watch for symptoms and get an early diagnosis and early treatment.  

Take care this summer! 

Hugs, 

Andrea