AFTER CARVING UP THE TURKEY AND BEFORE SERVING UP THE PUMPKIN PIE, THE NATION'S TOP DOCTOR IS HOPING FAMILIES WILL TURN THE DISCUSSION TO HEALTH -- IN PARTICULAR, FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY. I WOULD SAY, "MOM OR SISTER OR GREAT UNCLE, TELL ME ABOUT THE DISEASES IN OUR FAMILY. I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I HEAR THAT IT CAN HELP ME AND PERHAPS PREVENT PROBLEMS." CERTAIN DISEASES CAN BE PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.  MANY COMMON DISEASES -- DIABETES, CANCER, HEART DISEASE -- AND THEN UNUSUAL DISEASES LIKE SICKLE CELL ANEMIA; IF ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HAD THAT DISEASE, YOU MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO COME DOWN WITH IT. THE SURGEON GENERAL'S WEB SITE INCLUDES TOOLS TO ORGANIZE FAMILY HISTORY THAT CAN THEN BE SHARED WITH A DOCTOR. YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER A PREVENTIVE STRATEGY, A STRATEGY THAT WILL HELP YOU DELAY THE ONSET OF THAT DISEASE BY DIET, BY EXERCISE, PERHAPS BY TAKING MEDICATIONS.  WHAT MAY START AS A SIMPLE CONVERSATION AROUND THE DINNER TABLE COULD END UP HAVING LIFE-LONG BENEFITS FOR YOUR HEALTH.