Past, Present and Future: Why You Should Chart Your Family’s Health History

The risks for certain medical disorders, such as heart disease and some cancers, can be passed down from generation to generation. Drawing up a family medical tree can help you discover what runs in your family. And it can help you and your doctor in making health care decisions.

Begin by gathering basic facts about your family’s health history. Include grandparents, parents, siblings and children. Information on cousins, aunts and uncles also may reveal patterns.

Next, arrange the information into a chart. Start with your grandparents at the top. Each entry should include:

• Date of birth.
• Diseases or conditions and age at onset.
• Age and cause of death, if deceased.

Ask your doctor to review your chart with you. You may be able to decrease — or increase — inherited risks through lifestyle choices such as being active and not smoking.