Creating family health tree crucial: Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin

Hyderabad: Creating a ‘family health tree' is crucial for a better understanding of one's health, said Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, a renowned physician and hepatologist.

Dr Sarin said that it is important to be aware of what issues one inherits from one's parents and what may be passed down to future generations. "It is essential to create a family health tree to document common health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cholesterol, fatty liver, and cancer. This exercise is crucial to understand family health patterns," he said, during a recent talk show called, ‘The Wellbeing Show' hosted by AIG Hospital. The doctor also stressed on the need of maintaining a record of medical reports and regular monitoring of one's health.

Dr Sarin said, "If you are obese and have a family history of such health conditions, the probability of passing these issues to your child is high. Children may develop these diseases early in life. And that is why maintaining a healthy weight, eating nutritious food, and undergoing regular medical check-ups are essential."

The discussion also shed light on fatty liver disease, a condition Dr Sarin described as "lesser-discussed but highly prevalent". He revealed that one in three people suffer from fatty liver, which often begins at an early age, as young as five or six years old. "This condition doesn't appear suddenly in adulthood. It develops due to lifestyle choices," said Dr Sarin.

Dr Sarin recommended seven hours of sleep daily, 45 minutes of physical activity, a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol and smoking.