Families pass down more than just eye color and hair type. They also pass down genes that can affect your health. While you can’t change the DNA you inherit, understanding your family’s medical history can help you make better decisions about your health, prevent certain diseases and catch health problems early.
We spoke with Jennifer Siettmann, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, to learn more about why tracking family health history is important and how to get started.
What is family medical history?
Your family medical history is a record of diseases, conditions and health problems that run in your family. It includes information about your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and sometimes cousins.
“Family medical history is very important to health care providers,” Siettmann said. “We can use your family medical history to identify risks early, make appropriate lifestyle recommendations or determine whether you would benefit from genetic testing."
What health conditions should you look for?
While it’s helpful to know as much as possible, some conditions are more important to track than others. These include:
- Heart disease: Conditions like high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes can run in families.
- Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes can run in families but very few genes have been specifically linked to it yet.
- Cancer: Some types of cancer, like breast, colon (colorectal) and ovarian cancer, can be passed down through genes.
- Mental health disorders: Conditions like depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder can run in families.
- Autoimmune diseases: These include conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Neurological conditions: Diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and epilepsy can have a family connection.
How to gather your family’s medical history
Talking about health isn’t always easy but it’s important. Here’s how you can start:
- Talk to your relatives: Start with your parents, siblings and children. Then reach out to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for more details. Some helpful questions include:
- Have you ever been diagnosed with a serious illness?
- At what age did it start?
- Did any family members die from a certain disease?
- Do you take any medications for chronic conditions?
- Write everything down: Keep a document of chronic illnesses that may run in your family, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions . You can also use the free online tool My Family Health Portrait (from the U.S. Surgeon General) to help you create a family health history.
- Look for patterns: Pay attention to conditions that appear multiple times in your family or occur at unusually young ages.
- Ask about genetic testing: If any family members have undergone genetic testing, their results might provide helpful insights.
- Update annually: Check in with your family before your annual well-check visit. It can be at a time when you know your family will be getting together, like for a holiday or birthday.
What if I don’t know my family history?
Not everyone has access to their family’s health history. If you’re adopted or estranged from your family, your options may be more limited. However, you can still take proactive steps:
- Talk to your health care provider: Even without a family history, your provider can assess risks based on other factors, such as lifestyle and environment.
- Consider genetic testing: Some people undergo genetic testing to identify possible health risks.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Since lifestyle choices also affect health, focus on exercise, diet and preventive care.
What to do with this information
Once you’ve gathered your family’s medical history, what’s next?
- Share the information with your provider: Your provider can help you understand what it means and recommend steps to protect your health.
- Make healthy choices: Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference if you have a higher risk for certain conditions.
- Get the right screenings: Your provider may recommend getting tested for certain conditions earlier or more often than usual.
- Talk to a genetic counselor: If you’re thinking about genetic testing, talk to a genetic counselor. They can help you interpret results and explain their meaning to you and your family. You may want to consider genetic testing if:
- A condition appears at least three times in your family
- A disease is showing up earlier than usual
- A rare condition runs in the family
Genetic testing: Is it worth it?
Genetic testing can provide more insight into inherited health risks but it’s not a crystal ball. Siettmann explains that while genetic testing can be useful, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a disease or rule out the possibility of developing one.
“It’s easy to think you will get something because a relative had it, but that’s not always the case,” she said. “So much more is at work than just the genes. Where we grow up, the foods we eat, our exercise patterns, any exposures we have, whether we smoke - all of these can play just as much if not more of a role than our genetics in our likelihood of developing a specific condition.”
The cost of genetic testing varies widely, depending on the type of test and your insurance coverage. Some tests can be a few hundred dollars, while others can exceed $1,000. Many insurance companies cover genetic testing if it is deemed medically necessary.
If cost is a concern, talk to your health care provider or genetic counselor about financial assistance programs or lower-cost testing options.
Bottom line
Knowing your family’s medical history isn’t just about the past — it’s about protecting your future. By understanding what health conditions run in your family, you can take steps to stay healthy, catch problems early and make informed choices about your well-being.
Take the time to talk with your loved ones, write down what you learn and share it with your health care provider or a Banner Health specialist. It’s one of the best ways to take charge of your health!
