family health tree
Tips for Starting a Family Health Tree
Why bother with making a family health tree? For one, it may save your life!
If you’re like me, then you never considered how your enthusiasm for family history could turn into a project that might actually save a family member’s life. So, while you are researching genealogy information for your family, take some extra time to harvest health and medical information too.
Many diseases are genetic. Other diseases may not be necessarily hereditary, but since you and your family may share the same diet and lifestyle, you tend to develop the same diseases or ailments. By knowing which diseases you are more prone to get, you can stop it before it even develops.
When starting a family health tree, keep in mind one very important aspect: it should be filled with complete, accurate and precise information. To make it easier, start with yourself and then work backwards in both sides of your family. You should gather the following information for your health tree:
- Your family’s complete name. This should include your family members’ first name, maiden name and married name.
- Current age and date of birth. For deceased family members, indicate the age at death and cause of death.
- Relationships. See if you have any family members who are adopted. Twins should be noted too, and indicated if they are identical or fraternal. Also, if intermarriage has happened in the family tree—whether any relatives has married a blood relative.
- Birthing difficulties. Take note of instances of birth defects, miscarriages, stillborn babies, or infertility issues.
- Race and ethnicity. Some diseases are more prevalent in certain ethnic groups. For example, South Asians are more prone to Type 2 Diabetes than any other ethnic group.
- Lifestyle and environment factors. Look into your family’s exercise and diet, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, history of obesity and exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals. These factors significantly influence one’s health.
- Physical conditions and illnesses. Note physical conditions and illnesses that occurred earlier than typical. Vision, hearing and other physical problems should also be noted.
- Mental conditions and illnesses. Look at your family’s mental condition, whether there has been history of depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders).
- Chronic conditions and illnesses. Conditions like asthma, allergies and migraines should be noted. Also, inquire about the general patterns of health that occur in your family tree.
The best and easiest thing to gather this information is by asking your fellow family members and relatives. However, some data may be considered confidential or private. Your relatives may be uneasy about sharing certain health issues. Be sure to explain the purpose of your probing, and word your questions carefully. You do not want to offend or create misunderstanding with your family members.
[NOTE: Do you realize that you are probably the best person to gather this information for your family? Why? Because you are already the family historian! You are the one doing the work to gather family history information for a family tree. You have already uncovered vital documents and interviewed family members. And if you have any medical experience at all, then there really is no better choice than you as the family health tree creator! Even with no clinical medical experience you are still the most likely candidate for this project because of all the other research and expertise you have in the field of genealogy and family history.]
Other useful sources are medical records, death certificates, obituaries, military records, insurance applications, letters and diaries.
This project may not be finished for a few days, weeks or even months. This project is not an easy project, but creating a health tree is definitely worth it. You will have control over you and your loved one’s health. You will know the preventive measures to take. With guidance from your family health tree, you can live your life more comfortably and prevent illnesses from attacking you and your loved ones’ lives.
You should take some time to think about gathering family health history while you’re researching the other aspects of your family’s history. The life you save may be your own!
All the best to you!
P.S. Here is a family health history document from the American Stroke Association.
P.P.S. Here is another family health tree document – this one is from the VHL Family Alliance.
P.P.P.S. If you still need more information – get my free mini-course!
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