How to Search a Family's Health History
Health conditions and diseases are listed in a family's health history. Usually going back three generations of relatives, it includes a record of the ages of diagnoses and the ages and causes of death. It is very helpful to know your family's health history to understand any risks you may encounter and to take necessary steps to prevent disease.
Instructions
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Talk to members of your family to collect their health histories and keep a record of the information. Ask them if they have had or have any diseases or chronic conditions, and if they are taking medication for them. See if they know of any illnesses or conditions in the family. Update the family record every year and share it with your primary doctor. Use the information to help determine what tests and screenings you might need in the future.
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Speak with your family doctor to obtain any health information on your relatives. Ask if they have had any medical conditions such as high cholesterol, low or high blood pressure, diabetes or allergies and if medications were given. Also, ask if anyone in your family has had cancer or heart disease, arthritis, hepatitis, or lung problems.
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Check your state requirements to access medical records of family members. Get permission from the family member or if they have passed away, you can get the information if you are the next-of-kin: spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece or nephew. Obtain the signature of the next-of-kin if you do not qualify.
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Obtain death certificates of family members who have passed away if you can't get their medical records. Contact the vital records offices in the states where they died. The certificates may include information that could be helpful, including the ages and causes of death and the hospitals where they received care.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a family healthy history record on "My Family Health Portrait," a website created in 2009 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help people collect and organize family health information. Take about 15 to 20 minutes to fill out the information, which is kept private but easy to share with your relatives and doctors.
There should be no cost to have medical records sent to a physician but there might be a fee to have them sent to you.
There could be a small fee for a copy of a death certificate.
References
Resources
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