Family Health History

“Family health history is a record of the diseases and health conditions in your family. You and your family members share genes. You may also have behaviors in common…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Family Health History Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Family Health History/Portrait
  • Family History
  • Family History of Disease
  • Family Medical History
  • Family Tree for Health
  • Medical Family History/Tree

Family History

What is a family history?

DotS the definition of a family history may vary. In Family History: Summary the (United States) MedlinePlus’s definition is:

“Your family history includes health information about you and your close relatives”.2

Family Health History

What is a family health history?

DotS the definition of a family health history may vary. In Family Health History: The Basics – What Is Family Health History? the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition is:

“Family health history is a record of the diseases and health conditions in your family. You and your family members share genes. You may also have behaviors in common, such as exercise habits and what you like to eat. You may live in the same area and come into contact with similar things in the environment. Family history includes all of these factors, any of which can affect your health”.3

How

How can I collect my family health history?

In Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Collect My Family Health History? the CDC elaborate on:

“You may know a lot about your family health history or only a little. To get the complete picture, use family gatherings as a time to talk about health history. If possible, look at death certificates and family medical records. Collect information about your parents, sisters, brothers, half-sisters, half-brothers, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Include information on major medical conditions, causes of death, age at disease diagnosis, age at death, and ethnic background. Be sure to update the information regularly and share what you’ve learned with your family and with your doctor”.4

Tool

Is there a tool in which I can enter my family medical history?

In Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Collect My Family Health History? the CDC also note:

“You can use the Surgeon General’s web-based tool called “My Family Health Portrait” to keep track of the information”.5

Important or Not

Is it important to know my family health history?

Yes. In Family History: Summary MedlinePlus elaborate on:

“Families have many factors in common, including their genes, environment, and lifestyle. Looking at these factors can help you figure out whether you have a higher risk for certain health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer”.6

In Family Health History: The Basics – Why Is Family Health History Important for My Health? the CDC explain:

“Most people have a family health history of at least one chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. If you have a close family member with a chronic disease, you may be more likely to develop that disease yourself, especially if more than one close relative has (or had) the disease or a family member got the disease at a younger age than usual”.7

Prevention

Is there an association between prevention and family health history?

In Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Use My Family Health History To Improve My Health? the CDC note:

“You can’t change your genes, but you can change unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, not exercising or being active, and poor eating habits. If you have a family health history of disease, you may have the most to gain from lifestyle changes and screening tests. In many cases, healthy habits can reduce your risk for diseases that run in your family. Screening tests, such as blood sugar testing, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screening, help find early signs of disease. Finding disease early can often mean better health in the long run”.8

In Family History: Summary MedlinePlus explain:

“Having a family member with a disease raises your risk, but it does not mean that you will definitely get it. Knowing that you are at risk gives you a chance to reduce that risk by following a healthier lifestyle and getting tested as needed”.9

Act

As a result of my family health history, how can I act?

In Family Health History: The Basics – Knowing Is Not Enough–Act on Your Family Health History! the CDC elaborate on:

Family Health History

  • “Has your mother or sister had breast cancer? Talk with your doctor about whether having a mammogram earlier is right for you
  • Does your mom, dad, sister, or brother have diabetes? Ask your doctor how early you should be screened for diabetes
  • Did your mom, dad, brother, or sister get colorectal (colon) cancer before age 50? Talk with your doctor about whether you should start getting colonoscopies earlier or have them done more often”.10

Health Care Provider

Is it important to share my family health history with my health care provider?

It may be in your best interest to choose to share your family health history with your health care provider.

In Family Health History: The Basics – Why Is Family Health History Important for My Health? the CDC explain:

“Collect your family health history information before visiting the doctor, and take it with you. Even if you don’t know all of your family health history information, share what you do know. Family health history information, even if incomplete, can help your doctor decide which screening tests you need and when those tests should start”.11

MedlinePlus explain:

“You can get started by talking to your relatives about their health. Draw a family tree and add the health information. Having copies of medical records and death certificates is also helpful”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Family Health History?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Family Health History?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Family Health History: The Basics – What Is Family Health History? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  2. Family History: Summary. Last Updated: 14 June 2019. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/familyhistory.html Accessed: 18 March 2023
  3. Family Health History: The Basics – What Is Family Health History? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  4. Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Collect My Family Health History? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  5. Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Collect My Family Health History? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  6. Family History: Summary. Last Updated: 14 June 2019. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/familyhistory.html Accessed: 18 March 2023
  7. Family Health History: The Basics – Why Is Family Health History Important for My Health? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  8. Family Health History: The Basics – How Can I Use My Family Health History To Improve My Health? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  9. Family History: Summary. Last Updated: 14 June 2019. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/familyhistory.html Accessed: 18 March 2023
  10. Family Health History: The Basics – Knowing Is Not Enough–Act on Your Family Health History! Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  11. Family Health History: The Basics – Why Is Family Health History Important for My Health? Page Last Reviewed: 25 May 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_basics.htm Accessed: 18 March 2023
  12. Family History: Summary. Last Updated: 14 June 2019. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/familyhistory.html Accessed: 18 March 2023
Topic Last Updated: 18 March 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 March 2023

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