Ancestry launches AncestryHealth, says AncestryDNA has surpassed 1M people tested

Ancestry Health

Popular family history site Ancestry launched AncestryHealth to provide users with important health insights to help promote wellness, prevent illness and support healthier living. The company also appointed Cathy A. Petti, MD, as AncestryHealth’s Chief Health Officer, and announced that AncestryDNA has surpassed one million people tested in its database.

According to the Surgeon General’s office, family health history is one of the most effective screening tools in health today.The company’s first offering is a free service, currently in beta, that allows consumers to compile their family health history information with the help of their Ancestry family tree. According to the Surgeon General’s office, family health history is one of the most effective screening tools in health today; because certain health conditions like breast cancer, heart disease and cystic fibrosis can run in families and be traced.

“This new service leverages expert research and delivers customized information to consumers about the risks and prevention measures to help empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices,” stated Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry. “Combined with the breadth and scale of Ancestry data, we expect AncestryHealth to be a key piece of the puzzle as we look to understand how health is passed down through generations, and we are excited to have Dr. Petti lead this effort.”

AncestryHealth integrates health information with expertise in genealogy to help consumers trace health conditions along family lines and understand what it means to individuals and their families. The company also plans to work with institutions to integrate family health history data into electronic medical records to better help physicians use family health history as a screening tool.