For many people, it can feel like there’s never a “good” time to discuss family health history. Older relatives, in particular, may be private or reluctant to discuss health issues. Still, understanding your family’s health background is a key part of predicting potential risks and creating effective preventive care plans.

The U.S. Surgeon General recommends using family gatherings—especially around the holidays—as an opportunity to start this important conversation. Begin with first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children), then expand to second-degree relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and half-siblings. Be sure to include information from both sides of your family.

Because this can be a lot to cover, you may need multiple conversations, and it’s helpful to verify details with extended family members to ensure accuracy.

When collecting family health history, note any major illnesses or conditions, especially:
• Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or stroke
• Cancers (include type and location)
• Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases
• Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disease
• Birth defects or developmental disorders
• Blood disorders such as sickle cell disease or hemophilia
• Kidney disease
• Early-onset vision or hearing loss

Include the age at which each condition began, as early onset often indicates a stronger genetic link. Ethnicity can also be important, since certain populations have higher risks for specific inherited diseases, such as BRCA-related cancers.

Pregnancy history is another sensitive but vital area—miscarriages, stillbirths, infertility, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia can all provide meaningful information for future generations. Lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol use, and obesity, should also be recorded, as they can help distinguish between genetic and environmental influences.

Additionally, note each relative’s cause of death and their age at the time.

This may feel overwhelming, but these details provide you and your doctor with valuable insight into risks for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. With this knowledge, you can pursue early screenings and make more informed healthcare decisions. A thorough family health history can also highlight patterns of inherited conditions such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, BRCA-related cancers, and dementia. Capturing and sharing this information benefits both current family members and future generations.

Because these discussions can be challenging, Springpoint at Home’s Aging Life Care Advisors™ can help guide the conversation and assist in creating and maintaining a comprehensive family health history for you and your loved ones.