Your health: Know your family health history

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Many common conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer can run in families and sharing this information with your GP and other relevant health professionals may actually save your life or that or your children. Having a condition that runs in your family doesn't mean you will get sick, but it is a serious risk factor for some common illnesses.

This fact sheet was written by Dr Brett Gardiner, Director of Medical Services at HKHS. It is part of our Health Hotline series.

The best way to learn about your family health history is to talk to your family. Knowing if these conditions are in your family means that you can make better use of what is available for the early detection, prevention and treatment of conditions that have affected previous generations.

Sharing this information with your doctor means they can assist you to prevent future problems; or treat the problem early and provide the best chance at minimising complications and even for survival.

While most people agree that it is important to have knowledge of their family's health history and have discussed it at some time, only 30 per cent have actually investigated conditions within their immediate and extended family and only seven per cent of those people have actually kept a record of family conditions.

In particular, it is important to find out whether your family has a history of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or cancer of the breast, ovary, bowel or prostate.

There are some easy steps to remember when collecting your family health history:

• Start with yourself and record any relevant conditions you have and your age at diagnosis
• List your immediate family members (mother, father, brothers, sisters, children) and list their health problems and age at diagnosis or death
• Find out about your extended family including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (blood relatives only)
• Add to your list over time as new information is found
• Discuss this information with your doctor

You will find Family Health History information posters and take-home information leaflets in GP waiting rooms across NSW.

The Centre for Genetics Education's website also offers a number of tools for consumers and health professionals on the collection of their family health history including a 'My Family Health Record' and a guide to drawing a family health tree is available. Visit www.genetics.com.au.

Remember, you need to help your doctor to help you. So, if possible, find out and record your family health history and then tell your doctor - it may just save your life or that of your children and future generations.

Printable version

Related links:

• Printable version
• Hornsby GP Unit
• Physiotherapy
• Fact sheets