Quick Answer: Start gathering your family health history by talking to your parents, siblings, and grandparents about health conditions in your family. Ask about chronic diseases, cancer diagnoses, age at diagnosis, and causes of death. Write everything down and share it with your primary care doctor at your next annual exam.
Key Takeaways:
- Only 15% of adults actively collect family health history, despite 95% believing it's important
- Older family members (50+) often serve as "historians" and know the most about family health
- Start with simple, open-ended questions about common conditions like diabetes and heart disease
- Even incomplete information is valuable — share what you know with your doctor
- Update your family health history whenever new diagnoses occur
- Keep a written record using a document, spreadsheet, or free online tool
You know your family health history matters — but how do you actually gather this information? Talking about health issues with relatives can feel awkward, especially if your family doesn't typically discuss these topics openly. The good news: with the right approach, these conversations can be natural and even bring your family closer together.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to collect your family health history, what questions to ask, and what to do with the information once you have it.
How to Start the Conversation
Talking about health issues doesn't have to be uncomfortable. Here are strategies that work:
Pick the Right Moment
You don't need a formal family meeting. Look for natural opportunities when several relatives are together, or reach out to family members one-on-one. Some people feel more comfortable discussing health topics privately rather than in a group setting.
Show Genuine Interest
Frame your questions as caring about their well-being, not just gathering data. Ask "How are you managing your diabetes?" rather than a blunt "Do you have diabetes?"
This approach opens the door for real conversation and shows you care about their health journey, not just checking boxes on a form.
Start with Common Conditions
People are more likely to remember (and discuss) well-known conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease compared to rare disorders. Begin with these familiar terms before asking about more specific conditions.
Share Your Own Experience
If you're comfortable, mention your own health concerns or recent doctor visits. This can open the door for others to share. For example: "My doctor asked about family history of heart disease at my last checkup. Do you know if anyone in our family has had heart problems?"
Be Patient and Respectful
Not everyone will want to share their medical information, and that's okay. Some relatives may not know their own health history, especially if they're younger. Older family members (those over 50) often serve as the "historians" of family health, so they're good starting points.
Don't push if someone seems uncomfortable — you can always circle back later or ask another family member.
What Questions to Ask
Instead of questions that can be answered with just "yes" or "no," use open-ended questions that encourage conversation:
Good Questions to Ask:
- "What health conditions have you been managing?"
- "Has anyone in our family had heart problems? How old were they when it started?"
- "Do you know what health issues Grandma or Grandpa dealt with?"
- "Have any family members been diagnosed with cancer? What type and how old were they?"
- "Does anyone in our family have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol?"
- "Have any relatives had mental health conditions or Alzheimer's?"
- "Do you remember what caused [deceased relative's] death?"
Follow-Up Questions:
- "How old were they when they were diagnosed?"
- "Are they still dealing with this condition?"
- "What treatment did they receive?"
- "Were there any complications?"
Additional Tips for Gathering Information
Use memory aids: Ask family members to show you old photos or family keepsakes. These can jog memories and lead to more detailed stories.
Consider different methods
You might:
- Designate one family member to collect information from everyone
- Use a family group chat to ask questions and share information
- Send out a simple survey or questionnaire
- Create a checklist of conditions and ask family members to review it
Look for documentation: If relatives can't answer certain questions, death certificates, obituaries, or medical records can provide specifics like age at death, cause of death, and diagnoses.
Organizing Your Family Health History
Once you start gathering information, you need a system to keep track of it all. Here are your options:
Simple Document or Spreadsheet
Create a table with columns for:
- Family member's name
- Relationship to you
- Health conditions
- Age at diagnosis
- Current age or age at death
- Cause of death (if applicable)
Free Online Tools: The U.S. Surgeon General's office offers "My Family Health Portrait," a free downloadable tool that helps you create a family health tree you can share with relatives and bring to your doctor.
Phone Notes App: A simple notes file on your phone works if you prefer to keep everything digital and easily accessible.
Family Tree Format: Visual learners might prefer creating an actual family tree diagram with health conditions noted for each person.
Whatever system you choose, make sure it's easy to update and share with both your family members and your healthcare provider.
What to Do with the Information
1. Share It with Your Primary Care Doctor
This is the most important step. Your family health history helps your doctor:
- Decide which screening tests you need and when to start them
- Determine if you need more frequent screenings than standard guidelines recommend
- Assess whether genetic counseling or testing would be helpful
- Recommend lifestyle changes specific to your risk factors
- Prescribe preventive medications if appropriate
"The upside to seeing the same provider every time is that you develop an ongoing relationship with one medical professional over time, which allows you to form a trusting and meaningful patient-doctor relationship," explains says Mohammed Ibrahim, M.D., a family medicine physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Family Care, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice. "Walk-ins are welcome for acute sick visits, so you can get the dual benefit of a quick, convenient visit with a doctor who already knows your entire medical history."
Bring your family health history to your annual physical exam. Even incomplete information is valuable; share what you know.
If you don't currently have a primary care physician, Texas Health Physicians Group offers primary care throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Their family medicine and internal medicine providers specialize in preventive care, health screenings, and using family health history to personalize your care plan.
2. Share It with Your Family
Give copies to your siblings, children, and other relatives who might benefit. You're creating a resource that can help your entire family for generations. Younger family members especially will appreciate having this information as they start managing their own healthcare.
3. Keep It Updated
Your family health history isn't a one-time project. Update it whenever:
- A family member is diagnosed with a new condition
- Someone passes away
- You learn new information about older relatives
- Your own health status changes
Make a habit of reviewing and updating your family health history annually, perhaps at the same time you schedule your annual physical exam.
4. Use It to Make Lifestyle Changes
Don't wait for your doctor to tell you what to do. If you discover that heart disease or diabetes runs in your family, you can start making preventive lifestyle changes now:
- Eat a healthier diet
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Don't smoke
- Limit alcohol use
- Manage stress effectively
These changes can significantly reduce your risk even if you have a strong family history of certain conditions.
When You Can't Get Answers
Sometimes family members can't — or won't — share health information. This might happen because:
- They don't know their own family history
- Health issues are stigmatized in your family
- There's been family conflict or estrangement
- You're adopted or were conceived through donation
- Family members have passed away
If you hit roadblocks, remember:
- Any information is better than none; share what you do know
- Your doctor can work with incomplete information
- Standard screening guidelines still apply
- Healthy lifestyle choices matter regardless of family history
- You can start creating a health history for future generations
Finding a Primary Care Doctor to Share Your History With
When choosing a primary care provider to partner with on your health journey, Ibrahim emphasizes finding the right fit: "Most importantly, you should choose a doctor who respects you and listens to your concerns; someone you can trust and feel comfortable with."
Gathering your family health history takes some effort, but it's one of the most valuable things you can do for your health and your family's health. Start with a few simple conversations, write down what you learn, and share it with your doctor.
You don't need to gather everything at once. Start where you are, with what you know, and build from there. Every piece of information helps create a clearer picture of your health risks and the preventive steps you can take.
Your future self — and your family — will thank you for taking this step today.
Find a primary care doctor near you in communities throughout DFW, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Richardson, Prosper, Flower Mound, and beyond.
Sources:
- NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. Do You Know Your Family Health History?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024): Family Health History and Adults.
- NIH MedlinePlus: Creating a Family Health History.
- PLOS ONE. (2019): Awareness of Family Health History in a Predominantly Young Adult Population.