| Your family’s medical history can provide | | | | colds? |
| insight into the diseases and conditions that are | | | | * Have infertility, miscarriages, stillbirths or infant |
| common to you and your relatives. Use this | | | | deaths taken place in the family? If so, what was |
| history for clues about your risk for certain | | | | the cause? |
| diseases and conditions. Family gatherings in Dallas, | | | | * Any history of birth defects, learning disabilities |
| Houston or anywhere else in Texas can be fun | | | | or mental retardation? |
| and memorable. They are also an ideal time to | | | | * What is the family's dominant racial and ethnic |
| catch up on family news and information, including | | | | background? Some diseases are more common |
| your family's health history. By mapping your | | | | among members of certain races and ethnicities. |
| family medical history, you can help identify some | | | | * Is there any other information that may be |
| health risks you may face in the years ahead and | | | | relevant to the family medical history? |
| plan for measures to minimize or eliminate those | | | | There are other sources of information you could |
| risks. | | | | include, such as death certificates, which are |
| What is a family medical history? | | | | available through your state health department, |
| A family medical history or medical family tree is | | | | and family records, which might include letters, |
| a record of illnesses traced among family | | | | census records or obituaries. |
| members. It looks like the family tree you might | | | | Try to gather as much information on as many |
| have drawn in school, with, of course, the addition | | | | generations of relatives as you can, including your |
| of health information. This tree shows the | | | | parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, half |
| relationships between each family member. And, | | | | brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, |
| depending on how much information you're able to | | | | nephews, children and grandchildren. If you're |
| get for each relative, your medical family tree | | | | married and have children, include your spouse's |
| may end up being very detailed, while including | | | | family history as well. |
| health issues each family member faced. | | | | Make sure the information is as accurate as |
| What are the advantages of family medical | | | | possible. If you don’t have information |
| history? | | | | regarding what caused a family member's death, |
| By compiling a family medical history, you can help | | | | don't guess. Incorrect information will give you |
| your doctor spot patterns of specific conditions | | | | incorrect results. Do your best to collect solid |
| and diseases among family members. Your doctor | | | | information about your closest relatives, which |
| and other healthcare professionals can use your | | | | would be your immediate family. |
| family's medical history — sometimes called a | | | | What can I do if a relative doesn't want to share |
| pedigree — for a number of things, including: | | | | their medical information? |
| * Diagnosing a medical condition | | | | You might come across some relatives who |
| * Determining whether you may benefit from | | | | prefer to keep their health information private. |
| preventive measures to lower your risk of a | | | | There may also be relatives who do not want to |
| specific disease | | | | talk about an uncle's alcoholism, a niece's |
| * Deciding what medical tests to run | | | | treatment for mental illness, a nephew's dyslexia |
| * Identifying other members of your family who | | | | or a grandmother's Alzheimer's disease. Use tact |
| are at risk of developing certain diseases | | | | and compassion to overcome this hurdle. |
| * Calculating your risk of certain diseases | | | | In addition, consider these strategies to get family |
| * Calculating your risk of passing certain conditions | | | | members to open up and share personal |
| on to your children | | | | information: |
| What can't your family medical history tell you? | | | | * Emphasize that your purpose is to create a |
| A family medical history doesn't necessarily help | | | | record that will help you determine whether you |
| everyone looking for answers about hereditary | | | | and your relatives have a family history of certain |
| health concerns. For instance: | | | | diseases or health conditions. Make the completed |
| * If you’re adopted, family medical | | | | medical history available to other family members |
| histories only work for blood relatives. And if you | | | | so that they can also share the information with |
| are adopted and don't know your biological | | | | their doctors. |
| parents, your family's medical history won't tell | | | | * Ask a question several different ways. Some |
| you about your risk of inherited diseases. | | | | people may be more willing to share health |
| * Don’t use it to predict your future. | | | | information in a face-to-face meeting. Others may |
| Whether you'll actually end up with an inherited | | | | prefer answering your questions by mail or e-mail. |
| condition depends on your health habits, especially | | | | * Word each question carefully. Don't start with |
| diet and exercise. Knowing now that you're at risk | | | | personal questions. Begin your interview by asking |
| of certain diseases can motivate you to change | | | | general questions about the whole family and then |
| any unhealthy behaviors. | | | | let your relative volunteer his or her personal |
| It provides limited insight into small families. If you | | | | health information. |
| have few siblings and cousins, it could be more | | | | * Be a good listener. As your relatives talk about |
| difficult to identify family health patterns. | | | | their health problems, let them speak without |
| Someday it may be possible, and affordable, to | | | | interruption. Listen without judgment or comment. |
| use genetic testing to predict all of the diseases | | | | * Respect privacy. As you collect information |
| you’re at risk for. Until then, your family's | | | | about your relatives, respect their right to |
| medical history is probably the best way to look | | | | confidentiality. Some people may not want to |
| into your possible future. | | | | share any health information with you. Or they |
| Gathering information about your family's medical | | | | may not want this information revealed to |
| history. | | | | anyone other than you and your doctor. |
| Interview your relatives in person or on the | | | | Now share your family medical history with your |
| phone. Or see if they are willing to take a few | | | | doctor. |
| minutes at your next family reunion to answer | | | | Take your completed medical history to your |
| your questions. Talking with your relatives can | | | | next doctor's appointment. Your doctor can help |
| also help you renew or build relationships, as well | | | | you analyze disease patterns and can talk with |
| as gain valuable medical knowledge. | | | | you about your risk of developing certain |
| Devise a questionnaire for your family. This should | | | | diseases. If you're considering genetic testing, |
| include questions about medical conditions your | | | | your doctor can discuss this with you and |
| relatives have and their health habits, such as | | | | determine whether genetic testing is right for you. |
| smoking, diet and exercise. Also include: | | | | You’re a young, healthy Texan and you |
| * Can you provide significant dates, including birth | | | | certainly want to continue to stay healthy now |
| dates and other approximate dates when | | | | and as you get older. So a comprehensive medical |
| diseases/conditions were diagnosed? | | | | history might just help you pinpoint and avoid |
| * What major diseases has the family | | | | problems in the future. The right individual health |
| experienced? Examples: heart disease, stroke, | | | | insurance plan might also help you with your |
| cancer, depression, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, | | | | long-term fitness and health goals. As part of |
| obesity, blindness and deafness. At what age | | | | your healthcare strategy, why not take a look at |
| were these diseases or conditions diagnosed? | | | | the revolutionary comprehensive individual health |
| Was treatment successful? | | | | insurance solutions created by Precedent |
| * Any relatives have a tendency for other | | | | specifically for young, healthy individuals? |
| conditions: allergies, asthma, migraines or frequent | | | | |