How to Keep a Health Journal

Remember journaling as a child? Well, a health journal is sort of the same thing. It helps you keep track of all things health-related that you feel, undergo, contract or take. Think of it as an easy reference that you need to update every time you get a new medication, undergo surgery, get sick or notice something strange. These steps will help you start your own health journal, which can be computer-based or paper-based.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Either a notebook and pen or a computer with a word processor or personal Web page.

1. To start your journal, contact your physicians for you medical histories. Go back as far as you can and list dates and types of illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, surgeries, allergies and more.
2. If you can't get access to your earlier medical records, you can still keep a general log. Recall conditions you were diagnosed with, surgeries, other health events and the years they occurred. You can also record how you felt during the events.
3. Compile your family's brief medical history. List diseases or illnesses that run in the family such as diabetes, cancers and heart disease. This can mean asking your aunts and uncles if they take blood pressure medications or talking to your parents and grandparents about their health histories.
4. Once you have filled in back-dated information, you can begin logging your current medical events. Bring the journal with you to doctors' visits and discuss the journal with your doctors so they can help you keep it up to date.
5. To make the journal even more useful, offer it as helpful information for your children and siblings. The information you collect can help inform future generations as they work to care for themselves.