Creating a Family Health History

16. How do I know if I should get a genetic test?

You may want to ask your health care professional about genetic testing if you

have a family history of a rare, inherited disease, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia
have a history of more common diseases, such as cancer or heart disease, that affect many relatives in several generations of your family
have close relatives who developed common diseases earlier than normal
come from a population group with a higher risk of a specific inherited disease.