When Great-Aunt Martha says uncle so-and-so had a 'touch of sugar,' it means he had diabetes. When someone says aunt so-and-so was senile, it could mean she had Alzheimer's disease. When someone had 'hardening of the arteries,' it usually means coronary artery disease. 'Spells,' 'fits' and all of those old-fashioned terms all translate to modern medical conditions you could be at risk for.

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You can't change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle and, in turn, reduce your risk factors. Family history doesn't have to be your destiny.

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The older relatives in your family hold the keys to the information you're looking for, so it's important to be sure you learn as much as you can from them before they're gone. But remember, medical conditions were often a source of shame to older relatives in certain ethnic and racial groups, so it may take some cajoling to get them to open up and share what they see as family secrets.

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