How similar are you to your family members? Do you share the same eye color or hair color? Or, do your similarities go beyond what meets the eye? 

November is Family Health History Awareness Month, which means that it is the perfect time to go beyond the surface, and learn about your family’s health history. Perhaps you share the same blood type as a relative or a specific type of gene. By learning more about your family’s health history, you can better understand how to take care of yourself and take preventative measures to avoid developing other illnesses that you may be genetically predisposed to. 

Getting Started

Beginning to collect a comprehensive list of your family’s health history can seem very daunting, especially for those with larger families. However, the best way to get started is to look introspectively!

Start by writing down your own health history. Make sure to include any medical diagnoses and the age you were when diagnosed, any medications that you take and what age you began taking them, the dates/names of any surgeries you’ve had and the dates/reasons for any hospitalizations you’ve had in the past. When making this list, try to be as specific as possible, however, if you can’t remember exact dates, try reaching out to your physicians for your medical records or check any online portal that your doctor’s office may have for patients to use. 

Branching Out 

After completing your own health history, “branch out” to other members of your family tree and begin asking them for the same information that you wrote about yourself. 

A great way to get these conversations started is by talking to your family members over dinner or by leveraging larger family events where many family members are gathered at once. Whether it’s chatting from across the dinner table or over Facetime, capitalizing on an already existing daily obligation (like eating dinner), makes finding time to fit these important conversations into everyones’ busy schedules much easier. 

However, if you do not know your blood relatives, you can still begin your family health history with yourself. As you learn more, you can always go back and fill in any gaps there may be. Until then, reach out to the people that you do know.

Ways to find information if you do not know/have contact with your family:

• Research online with a genealogy website or your local library archives. 
• The National Archives can provide access to census records, news articles, birth announcements and obituaries.
• Follow a few general guidelines to decipher which information is reliable. 
• Ask for vital records from your state or local government offices (i.e. birth, marriage and death certificates). 

Campus Resources

We understand that sometimes having these conversations can be stressful. For some family members, health history can be a taboo or difficult subject. Luckily, there are plenty of licensed counselors at the Counseling Center ready to help! Consider making an appointment with one of our counselors for individualized support as you begin this process. 

Additionally, consider scheduling an appointment with any of our nationally certified wellness coaches at Wellness and Recreation to keep you on track. Together, you can better organize your health goals and have support as you navigate this new challenge in your health journey. 

Online Resources

As you’re preparing to have these conversations with your family members, consider mapping out your family tree, so that you can better visualize how each of your family members fits into your family health history. The National Society of Genetic Counselors has a great guide to help you get started drawing these connections. Additionally, using online tools such as My Family Health Portrait, or the Adult Family History Form can be helpful when logging all necessary information about your family members. 

Helpful Tips:

• People to include in your family’s health history: your parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews on both your mother’s and father’s sides of the family
• List the age and cause of death for any family members who have died
• Regularly update your family’s health history and notify your healthcare provider of any new diagnoses, conditions or procedures
• Note other lifestyle factors such as culture, ethnicity, and race as they also play a key role in one’s health and well-being

What to Watch For

According to the CDC, it is especially important to note if your parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces or nephews have or have had any of the following (make sure to also include the age at which they were diagnosed or treated):

• Heart attack
• High blood cholesterol
• Arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation
• Congenital heart defects
• Other heart-related conditions
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure

Refer back to the CDC’s website for more information and other warning signs.

What Now?

If you’ve collected your family’s health history and have had one or more family members mention the above health problems/procedures, we are here to help. 

Being educated is the first step to achieving better health. If you’d like to discuss your findings with a doctor, consider making an appointment with a primary care physician at Campus Health via the HealthyPack Portal. 

By taking the time to learn your family’s health history you are not only looking out for yourself, but you are building a strong foundation for a healthier future. Just like the Wolfpack looks out for one another, we are our strongest when we support, learn from and protect our pack. Together, we can thrive, both on campus and beyond.