How to Make a Family Health Tree

Family history is critical in the diagnosis of many health issues and common diseases. If you have children, sometimes keeping up with illnesses and surgeries can be a difficult task. Compiling a family health tree with details of your family's health can also help you communicate with your family doctor. Here are some tips for making a family health tree.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Start with yourself and work backwards in time identifying both sides of your family.
2. Write in your name, date of birth, any operations and any serious health problems.
3. Add information about your siblings if you have any.
4. Create a branch above you with your parent's information and the names and data for any aunts and uncles.
5. Add another branch about your parents' information for your maternal and paternal grandparents.
6. Include birth and death dates, and document the cause of death if known.
7. Update the health tree on a yearly basis, and include the chart with your other medical records.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to your parents and other relatives to gather accurate information.
• Note the age of disease onset. Many illnesses that occur before age 55 for a family member are of particular interest to your health care provider.