Essay on Genogram

A genogram shows traits and relationship that may not be available on pedigree chart. Genograms have application in medicine, social work, genetic research, psychology and education (Butler, 2008). Conditions that can be predicted in a genogram include depression, alcoholism, alliances, living situations and diseases. A family has influence individual’s actions, feelings and thoughts, tied together in their biological, emotional, legal and cultural history. In this discussion, a 3 generation genogram will be discussed. She is also allergic to cold and asthmatic. Her maternal grandmother was also asthmatic and used to react to cold. She was asthmatic most probably due to release of pro-inflammatory mediators released because of obesity, and a genetic component of asthma that run in her lineage. Diabetes type 2 has a strong genetic component that diabetes type 1, and therefore, because this family lineage has obesity issues and probability of diabetes, she will definitely get diabetes if obesity is not handles early enough.

Diabetes type 2 may progress to diabetes type 1 if the condition is not handles properly, leading to insulin dependence for management of blood sugar. She has been like that since she was young and her parents did not encourage her to exercise or adjust diet. She believes that since all her parents and grandparents were obese and therefore, she has no choice but to obese. She has a history of allergic reactions to cold and uses antihistamines when required. She has asthma, which was diagnosed when she was 12 years old. She is under oral bronchodilators and inhaler. The individual’s health is poor. Her obesity is a risk for hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes and allergies. These conditions may later lead to organ damage such as kidney failure, CHF, stroke and other cardiovascular, metabolic as well as psychological problems.