Have you ever filled out a form when you went to see a doctor? When you filled it out and asked your grandmother or grandfather about their illnesses, you must have thought, "Why are you asking these questions?" Doctors also ask you questions like this. Why is it so important? In fact, your family's health information is like a map that shows you the way to a healthy life. Let's talk about this simply.
What exactly is Medical History?
Simply put, your medical history is a combination of two parts.
1. Your personal health history : This includes details about every illness you have ever had, treatments you have received, surgeries you have had, and allergies you have.
2. Your family health history: This is the part that many people forget, but it's very important. This includes the health details of your blood relatives . That means details of people like your mother, father, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.
Both of these pieces of information provide very important clues to your doctor, because some diseases tend to run in families.
Imagine, if your doctor finds out that both your parents have heart disease , he will start paying attention to your heart health at a much younger age than someone without a family history of heart disease. This will allow you to identify potential risks early and take steps to prevent them.
Who should be included when searching for this information?
It is important for everyone to know their family health history, if possible. You may already know some of these things. But it is good to double-check them. Find out as many blood relatives as you can. Don't forget to include information about your mother's or father's half-sisters and brothers.
However, do not include these people in your family health history:
- Your husband or wife
- Your adopted children or your adopted parents/siblings
- Your stepchildren or stepbrothers and sisters
- Relatives related to your family by marriage
Remember, what matters here is only information about people who are genetically related, that is, blood relatives.
How to collect family health history?
This requires some effort. First, write down the things you learn in a book. That way, you won't forget the details over time. You can also add to it as you learn new things. Pass this information on to your siblings, children, and grandchildren when they grow up.
The best way to start this is to talk to your relatives, or ask them about it when you meet them. Tell them that you are not looking for something unnecessary, but that this is something you are doing to keep yourself and your family healthy. Tell them that you will share what you find with them. Then everyone can benefit from it.
Mainly, ask about the most common chronic diseases. Also, ask exactly at what age they were diagnosed with that disease. That's very important.
| Major medical conditions that you should definitely ask about | Things to know in particular |
|---|---|
| Cancer | What type of cancer and the age at which the disease was diagnosed. |
| Heart Disease | Heart disease, heart surgery, and age of onset. |
| Diabetes | Whether it is Type 1 or Type 2 and the age at which the disease was diagnosed. |
| High Blood Pressure | How long has it been around? |
| High Cholesterol | Are you taking treatment and the age at which it started? |
| Kidney Disease | Cause and age at diagnosis. |
| Stroke | The age at which it occurred and the reason for it. |
It is also important to know the health history of deceased relatives. If you can find death certificates or old medical records, you can find out the cause of death and the age at which the person died. However, older relatives who are still alive may know this information well.
What would you do if you were a child who was adopted?
If you are an adopted child, you may not know anything about the health history of your biological parents. If so, a large part of your medical history becomes questionable. You may wonder if you are at risk for hereditary diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Although the rules vary from country to country, in many countries, adopted children have the right to access their biological parents' medical history after they become adults. You may be able to obtain this information through the state agency that deals with adoption. Talk to your doctor about this.
How can this history help keep you healthy?
Once you know your medical history, you can make very powerful decisions about your health. For example, if you know that heart disease runs in your family, you can decide to reduce your risk by making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking , losing weight , and exercising.
Your doctor can also use this information to order screening tests that can help you catch diseases like cancer early . In many ways, your medical history can help both you and your doctor take better control of your health.
Take-Home Message
- Your medical history includes your personal health information, as well as the health information of your blood relatives.
- By knowing your family's health history, your doctor can gain a better understanding of your future health risks.
- When gathering information, pay attention to blood relatives and be sure to ask about common diseases like diabetes , heart disease, and cancer.
- Write down everything you learn in a book and share it with your doctor and other family members.
- This knowledge will help you and your doctor make the best decisions for a healthy life and detect diseases early.
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