The Utah Department of Health Chronic Disease Genomics Program encouraged reunions to explore family health history at their meetings. They suggest these questions to help develop your family health history.
- What traits seem to run in our family?
You don’t have to ask only about health – start with anything from your family’s blue eyes or curly hair to your height and personality – just get your family talking. - Did or do family members have any health problems?
- How old were family members when their health problem started or was diagnosed?
- How old were family members when they died?
If you don’t know exact dates, ask about the approximate age at death. - What were the reasons they died?
Note if the cause of death is unknown. - Were there any pregnancy losses or babies born with birth defects?
- Where were family members born?
Ethnicity can be a risk factor for some health problems. - Did any of family members smoke?
If yes, how much and for how long? - What other lifestyle habits did family members have?
For example: Did they exercise regularly? Were any overweight or extremely thin? Did any have addictive behaviors? - What types of allergies did family members have? For example: hay fever, food or medication allergies.
