How Well Do You Know Your Family Health History?

In addition to their DNA, family members tend to share their environment, lifestyles, and habits. That’s why knowing your relatives’ health history is important. It can offer a glimpse into your own health risks and, even better, can point to things you can do to stay healthy longer.

What is Family Health History?

Family health history is a record of health issues that have affected your relatives. It can create a "medical family tree" with conditions like cancer, heart disease, and more.

Why It Matters

Knowing your family health history helps you take control of your health. If certain health problems run in your family, you can talk to your healthcare team about them. Knowing this information can help you make better choices about screenings and lifestyle changes to lower your risk. Remember, staying informed is key to preventing health issues!

What to Ask

If you’re planning a family vacation or reunion this summer, it’s a great time to ask questions. You may want to ask about:

• Anyone who was diagnosed with a serious illness at a young age (10 to 20 years before most people get the disease)
• Two or more relatives that were diagnosed with the same condition (at any age)
• Anyone who was diagnosed with a condition that seemed unusual (for example, a male relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer)

Focus on relatives who you’re related to by blood, not marriage. (Your brother-in-law’s health history won't affect your health.) If you can, collect information about your:

• Grandparents
• Parents
• Aunts and uncles
• Nieces and nephews
• Siblings
• Children

Talk to Your Doctor

Be sure to share that information with your doctor at your next check-up. They may recommend lifestyle changes to help prevent disease or order additional screening tests for you.

The Genomic Life navigation team can also help you make sense of your family history, help you identify questions to ask your doctor at your next appointment, and more. Simply contact us to schedule a call.

Simple Resources

Does collecting your family’s health history feel overwhelming? If so, these tools may help.

• My Family Health Portrait - Online Tool: This free online tool helps you collect your family's health history. It's provided by the Office of the Surgeon General and the National Human Genome Research Institute. You can share this information with relatives and learn about your risk for certain health conditions. You can also use a downloadable PDF we created.
• Family Health History - Downloadable PDF: The downloadable resource helps you organize your family health history.

Reference: Genetic Alliance; The New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services. Understanding Genetics: A New York, Mid-Atlantic Guide for Patients and Health Professionals. Washington (DC): Genetic Alliance; 2009 Jul 8. Appendix B, Family History is Important for Your Health. Accessed May 22, 2026 at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK115560.