Cardiovascular Disease
This is by far the highest risk factor in our family. Cardiovascular disease or commonly known generally as heart disease, is a collective term for diseases of the heart and blood vessels. The term commonly includes diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke. Many of these conditions can be life-threatening. This is a risk factor coming from the Hutton Family Tree. My father, your great-grandfather had two heart attacks in his life beginning when he was just 52.  He eventually died from associated problems at the young age of 72. 

You should be aware of the factors leading to heart disease and have these monitored as early as possible.  These are High Cholesterol  and High Blood Pressure.  My High Cholesterol was discovered when I was 35 and I've been on a cholesterol lowering drug (Crestor) ever since. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure when I was 55 and have been taking two blood pressure medications since. 

Another way of staving off heart disease is diet and exercise especially when you are over forty. Regular exercise every day such as walking 3 to 4 miles will make a difference. When it comes to diet no single food can make you magically healthy, so your overall dietary pattern is more important than specific foods. Instead of fried, processed food, packaged meals, and sugary snacks, a heart-healthy diet is built around “real,” natural food—fresh from the ground, ocean, or farm.

Diabetes
Diabetes is found to be prevalent on the Hawkes branch of your family tree. Diabetes is a condition of elevated blood sugars where the body does not produce enough insulin to meet the body's needs or the body does not respond properly to the insulin being made. Insulin is important because it moves glucose (or sugar) into the body's cells from the blood. It also has a number of other effects on metabolism. This is certainly something you should be aware of as your get older.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Legg Perthes
This is a medical problem that I will discuss in detail later, on the "Childhood Medical Affliction" page. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a childhood condition that occurs when blood supply to the ball part (femoral head) of the hip joint is temporarily interrupted and the bone begins to die. This weakened bone gradually breaks apart and can lose its round shape. The body eventually restores blood supply to the ball, and the ball heals. But if the ball is no longer round after it heals, it can cause pain and stiffness. This disease can be inherited and you should be aware of the possibilities. Fortunately the treatment no longer requires wearing a large body Brace like the one I wore for three years.

 

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