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Cleveland Clinic HEALTH & YOUR FAMILY TREE A family health history can help you and your doctors create a unique road map to wellness and disease prevention. Use these tips to explore the branches of your family tree. FIND THE FAMILY HISTORIAN. START CLOSE, Ask an aunt, THEN BRANCH OUT. grandparent or cousin Look at yourself, your who kept in touch kids and your parents with relatives to BE RESPECTFUL. first and then your share memories. Recognize that some grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. family members will want to speak in private and that others won't want to discuss it at all. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. BREAK THE ICE. If you can't collect Start by asking, "What all of this information, was it like when you don't worry. Any were growing up?" GET ORGANIZED. information you can Let the conversation Jot information down gather is worthwhile! unfold. on our handy form, and save in folders or a binder. Consider sharing copies with relatives. ASK FOR DETAILS. If your relative is willing, ask whether cancer, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, mental disorders, substance abuse or other REFRESH YOUR FAMILY health problems have affected any family HISTORY REGULARLY. members. Write down their: Family health histories Relationship to you Any medications always change, so Gender regularly taken update yours annually Age, if living Any surgeries or or every few years. Cause and age at hospitalizations death, if deceased Smoking, exercise When symptoms & dietary habits began or disease was diagnosed