What to Know About Your Family’s Health History
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
When you go to the doctor, your primary care physician will ask about your family health history. A family history of diseases like cancer and diabetes can increase your risk for them.
Most people have a family history of at least one chronic medical condition, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Building your knowledge about this history can help you in your own care, including prevention.
What should you know before you head to your appointment? Here are tips on what to ask your family members.
Make a list of relatives to talk to.
Family health history is a record of the health conditions and diseases in your family, particularly focusing on parents, grandparents, children and siblings. You could also discuss the histories of aunts, uncles and cousins. Schedule time with them to discuss their own medical histories and what they know of their parents and grandparents. Find out if anyone has had genetic testing done and see if you can get the results.
Also ask about the mental health, lifestyle, diet and exercise habits of your family members. The conversation can be difficult, but it can help the entire family.
List all medical conditions.
Find out what medical and mental health conditions run in your family, such as:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Osteoporosis
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Depression and anxiety
- Substance abuse
Even if you cannot get detailed information, any information you can gather may be helpful.
Discuss age.
Learn the approximate age each person was when they received a diagnosis. If your relatives have diagnoses of diseases like cancer before the age of 50, your physician may recommend genetic testing, according to the CDC.
Learning the age and cause of death of relatives who have died is also valuable information
Note ancestry and ethnicity.
If you can, find out the countries your ancestors are from and know the races and ethnicities of your family members. Risk and occurrence of some diseases and health conditions vary by race and ethnicity.
Create your own personal health history.
As you build a family health record, create your own. Make a list of health conditions, major treatments and medications such as:
- Blood type
- Allergies
- Medications, doses and the time you’ve taken them
- Dates and results of tests and screenings
- Dates of surgeries and major illnesses
- Chronic diseases and date of diagnosis
Share the information.
Share this record with other family members. This helps others in their own medical care, and it preserves the information for future generations. The U.S. Surgeon General offers a private, online tool that helps you create a family health portrait to download and save. Update your family health history regularly.
Additionally, share your own health information, including genetic testing and serious medical conditions, with your relatives for their health own histories.
Talk to your doctor.
When you build this family health history, discuss it with your primary care physician. Histories of certain cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal and ovarian cancer, could mean you start certain screenings earlier.
A family history of a certain medical condition can increase your risk for it. You can use the knowledge to make lifestyle choices to reduce that risk.
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep
- Get your annual physical and recommended screenings
Image: Getty Images
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