Family History Summary Your family history includes health information about you and your close relatives. 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. 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. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Human Genome Research Institute National Human Genome Research Institute National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Family History National Institutes of Health Start Here Collecting and Understanding Your Family History National Society of Genetic Counselors Family History Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Medical History: Compiling Your Medical Family Tree Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Surgeon General’s Family Health History Initiative Department of Health and Human Services Why Is It Important to Know My Family Medical History? National Library of Medicine Seniors Creating a Family Health History National Library of Medicine Patient Handouts Family History Is Important for Your Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related Issues Family Reunion Health Guide National Diabetes Education Program Genetics, Disease Prevention and Treatment National Human Genome Research Institute NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Future of Personalized Medicine My Family Health Portrait, a Tool from the Surgeon General Journal Articles Family History Statistics and Research Web-Based Risk Appraisal Tool Increases Capture of Family History Data in Electronic Health Records Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Latest News Genetic High-Cholesterol Condition More Common Than Thought HealthDay
