Activity No.

14
My Family Tree

Name: Karl Michael E. Cabañog Date Due: December 12, 2020_____

Section: Block 260 (H78) Date Submitted: December 12, 2020

Instructor’s Signature: ___________________________ Score: _______________________

INSTRUCTIONS: Make a genogram through a photo family tree of your family up to the third
generation. Write a short write-up by ensuring the following guide questions are answered:

1. What are the chronic diseases present in the family?

Based on my family health history presented in the genogram, the chronic diseases present in my
family are:

a. Cancer – This disease was present in my aunt (father’s side), Tita Emma Algon. She was diagnosed
with stage 4 cervical cancer last 2015, and died because of it on December 15, 2015.

b. Stroke - This disease is present in my aunt (mother’s side), Tita Rosela Lincaro. She had a stroke on
2014. Thankfully, she survived, but it left her with long-term disabilities such as paralysis on one side of
her body and speech problems.
c. Hypertension – My grandfather (father’s side), Lolo Vidal Cabañog, my uncle (mother’s side), Tito
Virgilio Estrera, and my aunt (mother’s side), Meluz Merritt all suffer from hypertension.

Unfortunately, my parents don’t know my great grandparents that much. All they know is that they
died at an old age, but are not sure about their cause of death – if it is just because of old age or because
of a disease.

The good news is that, as of the present, none of my siblings and I are suffering from these
diseases. However, we can never be too complacent because the risk of getting these diseases are
greater when older generations have suffered from these diseases. Thus, me and my family have
instituted several measures in order to prevent getting these diseases.

2. How does your family address the concern?

When my aunt, Tita Emma, was still alive but was suffering from breast cancer, she was
usually given some medications as directed by her physician. At home, she was served
everyday by one of my uncles with healthy foods, especially those rich in antioxidants such as
homemade carrot shake, law-uy, fruits, and different food supplements. Unfortunately, it was
already her time to go last December 15,2015. Because of the death of my aunt, my
family/relatives from my father’s side became more vigilant and attentive with their diets. Some
of my uncles who were heavy drinkers decided to minimize and limit their alcohol consumption.
My uncles who were also smokers decided to cut down on the number of cigarette butts per
day. They were made more aware of the risk factors of cancer by my cousin, who was a
registered nurse. Many of my uncles and aunts also started to become more physically active
after that. My aunts started to attend Zumba classes, while my uncles bought bicycles and
regularly went biking during the morning. They also started to eat more fruits and vegetables
than what I usually saw every time I got home. Before the incident, most of the time, the dishes
served were mostly carbohydrates, fats and proteins. However, after her death, slowly, I started
seeing fruits by the table and them eating it. The same changes occurred in my family. My
father and my aunt were extremely close (my father was born after her), so it was a big hit for
her when she died. We also did the same activities that my relatives did. But instead of Zumba
lessons, my family bought a treadmill and bicycle so that we can use these equipment for
exercising. As mentioned above and in the next question, my family also became stricter when it
came to our diet. We decided to reduce the frequency of eating fried foods, and started to eat
more dishes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. With regards to my mother’s side,
when my aunt, Tita Shiela had a stroke, they thought she wasn’t going to make it. But
miraculously, she survived. This inspired my mother’s family / relatives to become more
conscious about their lifestyle. Since my aunt is now disabled, she is constantly being monitored
and taken care of by some of my cousins. She is fed with foods that are nutrient-dense. For the
changes in our family and relatives from my mother’s side, the same changes were observed,
aside from drinking alcohol. Unfortunately, some of my uncles in my mother’s side were still
heavy drinkers. Other than that, my other relatives were living a healthy lifestyle because most
of them are in the mountain areas, where the air is clean, and their dishes are usually plant-
based. Two of mother’s siblings were also suffering from hypertension. They were already
educated by my cousin (also a registered nurse) about things that should be and should not be
done so that their hypertension won’t get any worse. These included a healthy and balanced
diet (low in sodium and high in potassium), regular exercise, adequate sleep, maintaining
normal body weight, and prohibition from smoking and drinking alcohol. Even though me, my
siblings, and my parents aren’t suffering from hypertension, we still adhere to these measures
that our cousin told my aunt and uncle because we believe that prevention is always better than
cure.

3. What are the precautionary measures you have instituted yourself to avoid suffering
the disease?
In order to prevent having a stroke, I have instituted several “rules” upon myself. First, I vowed to
never engage in smoking or drinking alcoholic drinks. This is quite easy to accomplish since when I first
tasted alcohol, I didn’t like its taste. Second, I constantly try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet,
specifically, a diet high in fiber and potassium, and low in fat, sugar, and sodium. An example of this type
of diet is the DASH diet. I also incorporate a greater proportion of fruits and vegetables in my diet (this will
also help me consume less fatty-foods because the fruits and vegetables will make me full). Doing these
will help me minimize the risk of developing risk factors for stroke such as high blood pressure and
diabetes. Third, I regularly exercise by cycling around C3 highway for around 15-30 minutes. I also
frequently jog on my treadmill after I wake up. Lastly, I keep track of my blood pressure and weight, as
well as ensure that it maintains within the normal range. This is because a higher blood pressure and
weight increases the risk for stroke.

In order to avoid getting cancer, I have also instituted several “rules” upon myself. Again, I vowed
to never engage in smoking or drinking alcoholic drinks because these activities drastically increases the
likelihood of developing cancer. Second, I also constantly try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet,
specifically, a diet with greater proportions for fruits and vegetables. Aside from being nutrient-dense,
fruits and vegetables are also great sources of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber, which may all help
in decreasing the risk of getting cancer. Some of the vegetables and fruits that I regularly eat are carrots
(carrot puree or carrot shake), broccoli (chop suey), and pineapples. I also try my best to avoid sugary
drinks by not drinking soft drinks. I also try to minimize eating processed foods, especially processed
meats and junk foods. I also regulate the amount of food that I eat, ensuring that I never eat too much in
order to maintain a lean figure and prevent obesity. Additionally, I regularly exercise by cycling around C3
highway for around 15-30 minutes. I also frequently jog on my treadmill after I wake up. This will ensure
that I am able to maintain being physically active, which also helps in reducing the risk for cancer. Since I
cycle almost every morning for 15-30 minutes, I am also exposed to a decent amount of sunlight, which
will help me synthesize enough Vitamin D, which, according to many research studies, may help reduce
the risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, and other malignancies. However, I am not exposed to the sun
long enough to have negative effects. When I’m outside, I also try to stay away from polluted areas as
much as possible. Lastly, I have also taken vaccinations, such as Hepatitis B vaccine, in order to prevent
contracting this disease, which is known to increase the likelihood of getting liver cancer.

In order to avoid getting hypertension, I have also instituted several “rules” upon myself. Again,
me and my family try our best to make sure that the meals in our table resemble the DASH diet, meaning,
a diet with a minimal presence of red meat, salt, added sugars and fat; but abundant in fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and lean meats. This is because the DASH diet, from the name itself, is a guide for a type of
diet that will help reduce the risk of getting hypertension, particularly due to its low salt, high potassium
content. Aside from the diet, again, I also regularly exercise by cycling around C3 highway for around 15-
30 minutes and frequently jog on my treadmill after I wake up. This is to ensure that I am still physically
active, which greatly helps minimize the risk of suffering from hypertension. With the healthy diet and
regular exercise, I am able to maintain my weight within the normal range. Not only does a normal weight
help decrease the likelihood of getting hypertension, it also lowers the risk for several medical problems
such as heart problems. Again, I also never engage in drinking or smoking. Additionally, I try my best to
reduce any excess, unwanted stress. I regularly watch shows that help me relieve stress. And lastly, as
much as possible, I try to sleep early from 10 PM – 6:00 AM when there are no school activities.