Genogram analysis of three generations identifying illness patterns and health promotion strategies

Genogram

Generation Genogram

The whole point of performing a genogram, is so a patient can understand his or her risk factors for illness based on heredity. This paper provides an assessment, analysis and health promotion plan for the Yildiz family. The interview I conducted was with Ikbal Coskun-Yildiz, a second generation mother of two and her husband, Ekrem Yildiz.

The Yildiz and Coskun families are of Turkish descent. Ikbal, her husband and two children moved to the United States 15 years ago. The rest of the family including live in Ankara, Turkey. Ekrem, also has extended family living in Turkey. They are both 56 years old. Unfortunately both sets of their parents are dead, but all of their siblings are still alive.

It should be noted that the Yildiz and Coskun families have similar patterns on both sides. Cancer and heart conditions are recurring themes. Ikbal's mother died of lung cancer and her father died of a heart attack. Ekrem's mother died of pancreatic cancer and his father died of atherosclerosis. The other main genetic factor on Ekrem's side is alopecia, or baldness that seems to affect only the men on his side of the family.

The Yildiz's have two children, a boy named Ustun, 30 years old and a girl named Deniz, 25 years old. Both are college graduates, they are the first in their family to go to college. Ustun is a professor and Deniz is working on a master's in engineering. She does not work, as both Ikbal and Ekrem want her to get her education first and foremost; that is a popular belief within the Turkish culture, that education always comes first.

Every family must endure some type of commonality when it comes to a sickness that can be passed from generation to generation. Ikbal has been getting radiation and chemotherapy over the past two-year because in May 2011, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. One of the most difficult situations with the family is the fact that the medical treatment costs are so high. She also suffers from hypertension and has to buy medication for that. Since she is unable to work, Ekrem has to be the sole provider and Ustun helps contribute to the family with part of his salary as a professor.

The primary immediate challenge for the family regarding their health, is hypertension and obesity. Deniz and Ekrem are diagnosed as clinically obese, where Ikbal and Ustun are both overweight for their height. Ekrem also has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They abandoned the healthy Mediterranean diet and switched to a typical American diet with fast foods that are high in calories and saturated fat. They did not have weight issues until they came to the U.S. It is crucial they get back to the diet they once had in Turkey, before they develop cardiovascular conditions like plaque formation or dyslipidemia and worsening hypertension.

The main area they should focus on is changing their dietary habits. For example, there is the Mediterranean Diet which is heavy on healthy fish, olive oil, red wine and vegetables. There is also the DASH diet that focuses more on plant foods like fruits, vegetables and low or non-fat dairy. Since plant products do not have saturated fats, they are extremely helpful at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. These foods should be purchased fresh from a grocery store and eaten raw so as not to eradicate the high nutrient and antioxidant value of fruits and veggies. There is always the MyPyramid, formerly the Food Pyramid, that offers advice on keeping a balanced diet. With a lower intake of sugar and greater intake of plant foods and lean meats, Ikbal and Ekrem can lower their blood pressure and cholesterol, while Ustun and Deniz can prevent this occurance in their young age.