A family health history is a record of health information about a person and his or her close relatives . A complete record includes information from three generations of relatives, including children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins.
What is family health history?
What is 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, such as exercise habits and what you like to eat.
What should be included in a family medical history?
- Sex.
- Date of birth.
- Ethnicity.
- Medical conditions.
- Mental health conditions, including alcoholism or other substance abuse.
- Pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects or infertility.
- Age when each condition was diagnosed.
What is considered medical history?
Listen to pronunciation. (MEH-dih-kul HIH-stuh-ree) A record of information about a person’s health . A personal medical history may include information about allergies, illnesses, surgeries, immunizations, and results of physical exams and tests.
How do you assess family medical history?
- What countries did our relatives come from?
- Did our late relatives have health problems? What were the issues and when were they diagnosed?
- How old were they when they died?
- What were the reasons for their deaths?
How do I organize my family medical records?
Use a filing cabinet, 3-ring binder, or desktop divider with individual folders. Store files on a computer, where you can scan and save documents or type up notes from an appointment. Store records online using an e-health tool ; certain online records tools may be accessed, with permission, by doctors or family members.
Who is considered immediate family for medical history?
The general rule for family health history is that more is better. First, you’ll want to focus on immediate family members who are related to you through blood. Start with your parents, siblings, and children. If they’re still alive, grandparents are another great place to start.
How important is family medical history?
A family health history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders , such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices.
What questions should I ask my family medical history?
Questions can include o Do you have any chronic diseases , such as heart disease or diabetes, or health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol? o Have you had any other serious diseases, such as cancer or stroke? o How old were you when each of these diseases and health conditions was diagnosed? o ...
What are the diseases common in your family?
- CANCER. This is always top of the list in terms of the anxiety it causes people, but interestingly only a few cancers actually pose a risk to relatives. ...
- CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. ...
- OSTEOPOROSIS. ...
- EYE HEALTH. ...
- ARTHRITIS. ...
- DEMENTIA. ...
- BLOOD CLOTS. ...
- DIABETES.
How do I see my medical history?
How to Request Your Medical Records. Most practices or facilities will ask you to fill out a form to request your medical records . This request form can usually be collected at the office or delivered by fax, postal service, or email. If the office doesn’t have a form, you can write a letter to make your request.
How do I collect my medical history?
“Normally, one would simply have to call the health care provider and request a copy of the record and pick them up , after signing a release for the records.” Some records that patients may want to request are test results, reports for surgeries, doctor’s notes, discharge summaries and specialists’ reports.
Why do doctors ask if you’ve ever been pregnant?
If you are pregnant, or possibly pregnant, it may matter medically, so your doctor may need to adjust her medical recommendations . For example, tests that involve radiation may not be able to be safely performed, so she’ll decide whether they can be skipped.
How do you ask for family health history?
- Write down what you know—such as family members’ names, where they were born, or how many children they have.
- Pick the questions you will ask ahead of time.
- Record the interviews on a tape recorder or video camera.
What is a family screening?
Family screening, referred to as cascade screening in the article, involves identifying an FH patient , called the proband, and active cholesterol screening, genetic testing, or both for all potentially affected relatives.
Why is it important to know family history?
Even though you cannot change your genetic makeup, knowing your family history can help you reduce your risk of developing health problems . Family members share their genes, as well as their environment, lifestyles, and habits. ... Risks for diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease also run in families.
