If you are completing your recent family history or genealogy it may be a good idea to track the health histories of the family. This is personal information, and not the type of stuff that you would want to post on the Internet, however it is important information and can help future generations.
This type of record can be obtained by interviewing the oldest members of your family. You can ask them about the health of the people in the family and conditions that they struggled with. You can record instances of Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease and cancer. This can give family members a record of illnesses that run in the family.
Additional information can be collected in order to help with other types of diagnoses. For example there are conditions that can affect growth and other development issues that often run in families. This is not the same as genetic counseling, but a strong family history can help a doctor know where to start looking for these types of clues.
This information is private and confidential. It should not be posted online, but it is good information to have on hand. Generally one person will have records or a history of this and can help family members when they are faced with these situations. It can lead family members to make lifestyle changes or to prepare for specific events.
The medical family history should only be done on close relatives and you should be sure to respect the privacy of all involved. For example it makes sense to know the history of your grandparents, parents and brothers and sisters, but not that of your second cousins. Be respectful and confidential when you can. You may choose just to list the condition and relationship such as brother/sister to keep things more private.
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