Your Family Health History: Why It Matters and How to Gather It

Your family health history is the health information of you and your close relatives.

Why it matters

Families share genes, environment and lifestyle. Looking at these can show whether you have a higher risk of health problems such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.

• Higher risk is not destiny: a relative with a disease raises your risk but does not mean you will get it.
• A chance to act: knowing your risk lets you lower it with a healthier lifestyle and the right tests.

How to start

1. Talk with your relatives about their health.
2. Draw a family tree and add what you learn.
3. Collect copies of medical records and death certificates where you can.

Sources

Based on "Family History," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.