The Importance of a Family Medical History Tree

Few people have medical knowledge about their parents and siblings' health conditions, much less their past or present treatment. Clinicians are more interested in family medical histories now than in the past as medical science continues to discover the genetic links to various diseases.

The more complete your personal and family medical history, the more clues you provide to your clinicians as you help them piece together your story in order to make diagnoses.

A Medical History Family Tree will assist you and your health care team in the following ways:

· Helping to make a diagnosis (most obvious)
· Assessing your risk of developing conditions other family members have
· Determining important tests to monitor for those conditions
· Determining lifestyle habits that are right for you.
· Identifying risk factors of other family members
· Determining your risk of passing a condition(s) to your offspring

By talking with your siblings and parents, you can share information you've learned about conditions you all have in common. You may even discover symptoms you've ignored that need attention. If your family is not used to sharing health-related information, as you initiate the conversation, be sensitive in your approach. Explain what you are doing and why - that sharing information could lead to timelier and more accurate diagnoses. Offer to share the compiled information with them once it is completed. Ask how they'd lie to share their information - in a discussion in person or on the phone or in answer to questions much like a survey.

Include the following in your discussion or survey:
· Diseases and illnesses, both physical and psychological - the age each occurred
· Birth-related problems, such as infertility, birth defects, infant deaths, physical and mental disabilities
· Headaches, asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions
· Diet, exercise, smoking and drinking habit (realizing these may be sensitive subjects they may choose not to discuss)

Get in touch with family members and learn about each other's health. You owe it to yourself and your family.

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