You may not talk to your relatives all the time, but that’s family. When you see each other during the holidays or at a big family event/gathering, then it’s all love, right? So don’t let that precious time go to waste by talking about the weather, or your new job, etc. As family, more than ever, we need to make sure that each one of our family members is doing well in all aspects of their life.
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So, talking to you now, here are the health questions we need to ask our relatives when we see them, talk to them on the phone, text, or skype. These health questions help determine where they are at and what they need to do.
A lot of family members will say that they indeed have gone to the doctor, but it’s been a while. If they only answer with “they said that I’m fine”, ask the name of their doctor and give that doctor a call to see what they really said.
With heart disease being the number one cause of death in Black Americans, high blood pressure is the first indication. So be sure to see what your loved one’s blood pressure is.
If he/she does not know, then more than likely, there is a Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, or another drugstore close to you because many of them have blood pressure monitors that you can administer yourself. It’s a small price to pay for a piece of mind, knowing that your relatives are okay.
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That’s a family health history question that goes unanswered in many households. It’s important to know who and what side of the family has had what disease like cancer, stroke, etc so you know if you or your children may be affected.
Don’t just settle for answers about physical illnesses, be sure to ask who in the family suffered from mental illness too. Catching it early or before it has a chance to hit you is key to changing your family health history for good!
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Even if it’s just walking, making sure your family members are doing something–ANYTHING–to get their bodies moving is a must.
If you can tell they don’t get out much, then suggest that they take at least one day out of the week to do
15 minutes or just walk around the block, walk inside of the mall, go swimming, play their favorite sport, etc. Physical activity is key to living a longer life.
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Sometimes, just knowing that a person is available to talk to is enough to make people feel at ease. I know it’s hard sometimes to always be available for that begging cousin or that needy uncle who seems to be always trying to start a business, but they are family and there’s a way you can still talk to them while not feeding into the negative. Don’t ignore their calls and just make sure there is someone they can confide in, even if it’s not you.
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That’s family y’all. And family is all we have. Thanks for listening.
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