4 Steps to Starting Your Family
Health History
November 2, 2016 By Leslie Albrecht Huber
Learning about your family can help you understand your past and form more meaningful connections with family members now. But did you know that gathering information about your family can also provide important medical information? Unlike conversations about birth dates and family memories, this type of research requires conversations about health issues and medical conditions. With this type of information, the finished product is a family health history instead of a family group sheet or written family history.
We know that many diseases and health conditions run in families. . .
Learning about your family can help you understand your past and form more meaningful connections with family members now. But did you know that gathering information about your family can also provide important medical information? Unlike conversations about birth dates and family memories, this type of research requires conversations about health issues and medical conditions. With this type of information, the finished product is a family health history instead of a family group sheet or written family history.
We know that many diseases and health conditions run in families. . .
These include heart disease, high cholesterol, many types of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, kidney disease, and many others. By gathering health information about your family in one place, you can recognize patterns and assess risks to your life and family now. You can use family medical information to make healthier choices now. Here are some ways this information could help:
1. Talk to your family members about health issues and medical conditions.Starting conversations about health issues and medical conditions can sometimes feel uncomfortable because this information can be sensitive and private. Be sure to be respectful by finding a place to talk where others won’t overhear, and explain why you would like to know about their health. Ask permission to share any information family members give you—and then share relevant facts and only when necessary.
Here are some questions you can ask:
2. Find additional information in records.
Some people will be able to learn a lot about their family’s health simply by talking to their family members. Others won’t—either because that information isn’t widely known or because family members are reluctant to share. After talking to family members, you can turn to records to gather more information about your family’s health—particularly about relatives who have died.
A good place to start is with death records, which often include a cause of death. However, not all records are created equal. In early death records, you may find causes of death left blank, recorded as “unknown” or described with non-specific phrases such as “childhood disease” or “old age.” Other records may list diseases unfamiliar to you, sometimes because we don’t use the same terminology that was used long ago. A little research can often help you equate old terminology with modern terminology.
Other records, such as medical records, obituaries, and funeral home records, can include information about your family’s health too. Clues to family members’ health can also be found in records besides those associated with death.
3. Record what you find.
Once you’ve gathered you family’s health and medical information, make sure you record it in a health history. Compiling the information makes it more meaningful by revealing patterns as well as enabling you to share the information more easily. There are several ways to create a health history. Here are some sites that can help:
Once you compile information about your family health history, don’t forget to include what you have learned in your Family Tree in FamilySearch. Once you select an individual and have their information on the screen, scroll down to “Notes.” Choose to “Add a New Note.” You can include health information in a new note so others can access it, but keep in mind information for living people should not be shared.
4. Share your results.Others in your family are at risk for the same health conditions you are. Because of this, it’s important to share what you’ve found with your family members so they can benefit from your research as well. You should also let your doctor know what you’ve learned. If you created a report in step 3, consider giving your doctor a copy of it.
This holiday season, while you are spending time with family, consider gathering health information. In fact, the Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving Day to be National Family Health History Day! It could be the first step to a longer and healthier life for you and your family members.
For more information on starting a health history, visit these sites:
- Recognize signs and symptoms early. Early detection and treatment leads to better outcomes.
- Request screenings and tests targeted toward people at high risk for developing certain conditions.
- Choose to make lifestyle changes that lower your risks.
- Share the family medical information with your doctor, who may suggest other measures to keep you healthy and lowers your risks.
1. Talk to your family members about health issues and medical conditions.Starting conversations about health issues and medical conditions can sometimes feel uncomfortable because this information can be sensitive and private. Be sure to be respectful by finding a place to talk where others won’t overhear, and explain why you would like to know about their health. Ask permission to share any information family members give you—and then share relevant facts and only when necessary.
Here are some questions you can ask:
- I’d like to talk to you about health conditions that run in our family in order to put together a family health history. Would that be okay? First, I’d like to know if you have any health conditions or issues.
- I understand you have (name the health condition). Could I ask you some questions about it?
- At what age were you diagnosed with this condition?
- How did you find out you had it?
- How are you managing or treating your condition?
- Are you aware of other family members who have this disease or condition also?
- Do you have any other health conditions or know of health conditions others in the family have?
2. Find additional information in records.
Some people will be able to learn a lot about their family’s health simply by talking to their family members. Others won’t—either because that information isn’t widely known or because family members are reluctant to share. After talking to family members, you can turn to records to gather more information about your family’s health—particularly about relatives who have died.
A good place to start is with death records, which often include a cause of death. However, not all records are created equal. In early death records, you may find causes of death left blank, recorded as “unknown” or described with non-specific phrases such as “childhood disease” or “old age.” Other records may list diseases unfamiliar to you, sometimes because we don’t use the same terminology that was used long ago. A little research can often help you equate old terminology with modern terminology.
Other records, such as medical records, obituaries, and funeral home records, can include information about your family’s health too. Clues to family members’ health can also be found in records besides those associated with death.
3. Record what you find.
Once you’ve gathered you family’s health and medical information, make sure you record it in a health history. Compiling the information makes it more meaningful by revealing patterns as well as enabling you to share the information more easily. There are several ways to create a health history. Here are some sites that can help:
- The Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait
- Utah Department of Health’s Your Health Family Tree
- Your Family Health History
- TapGenes
Once you compile information about your family health history, don’t forget to include what you have learned in your Family Tree in FamilySearch. Once you select an individual and have their information on the screen, scroll down to “Notes.” Choose to “Add a New Note.” You can include health information in a new note so others can access it, but keep in mind information for living people should not be shared.
4. Share your results.Others in your family are at risk for the same health conditions you are. Because of this, it’s important to share what you’ve found with your family members so they can benefit from your research as well. You should also let your doctor know what you’ve learned. If you created a report in step 3, consider giving your doctor a copy of it.
This holiday season, while you are spending time with family, consider gathering health information. In fact, the Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving Day to be National Family Health History Day! It could be the first step to a longer and healthier life for you and your family members.
For more information on starting a health history, visit these sites: