Why should I bring this information to my healthcare provider?

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Did You Know?

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, has said:
“Knowing your family health history can save your life. It’s one of the most powerful ways to personalize medical care.”

Get Involved

Once you collect your family health history, fill out a Healthcare Provider Card and bring it to your doctor. It puts the information in one place so your doctor can easily look at it and make suggestions for your health.

Isabel's Story

My grandmother died of a heart attack when she was 39 years old. Even though my mom is careful about healthcare for our family, she did not know that she has a very serious heart condition.

During a regular checkup two years ago, a doctor discovered her uncontrollable heart arrhythmia. Mom was taken to the hospital, and a cardiac pacemaker was put in the following day. Now, when I go for my checkups, I talk to my doctor about my grandmother’s and mom’s heart conditions.

My doctor checks my heart and always runs a special test on it because of my family health history.

Help Yourself

Healthcare providers ask questions about your health and your family’s health when you visit the office. This helps them care for you.Your healthcare provider can:  

  • Help you understand your risk for disease
  • Suggest changes to what you eat or other habits
  • Recommend tests to find problems early
  • Figure out if you should get a specific genetic test
  • Explain the results of your tests
  • Figure out if other family members could get a certain disease
  • Help you understand your risk of passing conditions on to your children

Doctors use your family health history to make decisions and recommendations to help you lower your risk for diseases and stay healthy. The tests and treatments the doctor gives you can work with the steps you take yourself, like eating right and getting more exercise.

Your doctor may also order a genetic test or refer you to a genetic counselor or geneticist for more information.

Help Your Relatives

Your healthcare provider can:  

  • Figure out if other family members could get a certain disease
  • Figure out if your relatives should get a specific genetic test
  • Help you understand your risk of passing conditions on to your children

Knowing this information helps more than just you and your children. Your family health history is gathered from your relatives, but some of them may not realize they have health risks. Your healthcare provider can help to find out.