Why Family History Matters
Your family health history is one of the most important tools for understanding your personal health risks. Certain conditions tend to run in families, and knowing your family history can help your healthcare provider:
- Assess your risk for specific conditions
- Recommend earlier or more frequent screenings
- Suggest preventive measures
- Determine if genetic testing might be beneficial
Key Relatives to Include: Focus on first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) and second-degree relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles). The more complete your information, the more useful it is.
Conditions to Track
When gathering your family history, pay special attention to these conditions:
Cancer
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma/skin cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Other cancers
Heart and Blood Vessel Disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Aneurysm
Metabolic Conditions
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Obesity
Other Important Conditions
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Osteoporosis
- Dementia/Alzheimer's disease
- Mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder)
- Autoimmune diseases
- Blood clotting disorders
- Birth defects
- Pregnancy complications
Information to Gather
For each family member with a health condition, try to document:
- Their relationship to you (mother, maternal grandmother, paternal uncle, etc.)
- The specific condition or diagnosis
- Age at diagnosis (if known)
- Current age or age at death
- Cause of death (if deceased)
- Lifestyle factors (smoking, obesity) if relevant
Family History Template
Use this format to organize your family health history. You can print this page or copy the template to a document.
Parents
Mother
Current age or age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death (if applicable): _______________
Notes: _______________
Father
Current age or age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death (if applicable): _______________
Notes: _______________
Siblings
Number of siblings: ___
Sibling 1
Relationship (brother/sister): _______________
Current age or age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
(Repeat for additional siblings)
Maternal Grandparents
Maternal Grandmother
Age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death: _______________
Maternal Grandfather
Age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death: _______________
Paternal Grandparents
Paternal Grandmother
Age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death: _______________
Paternal Grandfather
Age at death: _______________
Health conditions:
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Cause of death: _______________
Aunts and Uncles
List any aunts or uncles with significant health conditions:
- Relationship: _______________ Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Relationship: _______________ Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Relationship: _______________ Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
- Relationship: _______________ Condition: _______________ Age at diagnosis: ___
Tips for Gathering Information
Who to Ask
- Parents and grandparents (if living)
- Older aunts and uncles
- Other family members who may know health history
Conversation Starters
- "I'm updating my health information for my doctor. Do you know what health conditions run in our family?"
- "Do you remember what grandma/grandpa passed away from?"
- "Were there any relatives who had cancer or heart disease?"
- "Did anyone in the family have diabetes or high blood pressure?"
Other Sources
- Death certificates
- Family bibles or records
- Obituaries
- Old medical records (if available)
Important Notes
- It's okay to have incomplete information—share what you know
- Update your family history as you learn new information
- Don't forget to include your own health conditions
- Some families may have limited knowledge due to adoption, estrangement, or other factors
Privacy Note: Keep this information secure. Share it with your healthcare providers, but be mindful about who else has access to this personal family information.