A family health history is a record of health information about a person and his or her close relatives. A complete record includes information from three generations of relatives, including children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins. Show
Families have similar genetic backgrounds, and often similar environments and lifestyles. Together, these factors can give clues to conditions that may run in a family. By noticing patterns of disorders among relatives, healthcare professionals can determine whether an individual, family members, or future generations may be at an increased risk of developing a particular condition. A family health history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. A family history also can provide information about the risk of rarer conditions caused by variants (mutations) in a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. While a family health history provides information about the risk of specific health concerns, having relatives with a condition does not mean that an individual will definitely develop that condition. On the other hand, a person with no family history of a disorder may still be at risk of developing the disorder. Knowing one’s family health history allows a person to take steps to reduce his or her risk. For people at an increased risk of certain cancers, healthcare professionals may recommend more frequent screening (such as mammography or colonoscopy) starting at an earlier age. Healthcare providers may also encourage regular checkups or testing for people with a condition that runs in their family. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthier diet, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking help many people lower their chances of developing heart disease and other common illnesses. The easiest way to get information about family health history is to talk to relatives about their health. Have they had any health problems, and when did they occur? A family gathering could be a good time to discuss these issues. Additionally, obtaining medical records and other documents (such as obituaries and death certificates) can help complete a family health history. It is important to keep this information up-to-date and to share it with a healthcare professional regularly. Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on June 17, 2020 Learn your family's health history. It can help your doctor choose the screening tests that might be right for you. It's most important to talk to your parents, brothers and sisters. But you
might also want to talk to your grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, half-brothers and half-sisters, and cousins. Ask questions like: Also ask questions about other relatives, such as:
Importance of collecting patient family health history A family health history (PDF) helps physicians and other health care practitioners provide better care for patients. A properly collected family history can:
Types of information to be included in family history Types of information to be included in family historyA family history (PDF) is a lifetime record that patients should provide to all their new physicians when receiving health care. The history should be detailed, including:
Patients can access the “My Family Health Portrait” to:
Family history and prenatal/pediatric screening Family history and prenatal/pediatric screeningPatient questionnaires (PDF) can provide useful material to physicians who want to gather information from a couple either prior to pregnancy or during a pregnancy. Other questionnaires (PDF) can help the health care professional get the necessary history of a child in order to help with a diagnosis and treatment plan. Watch "Family Health History Splainer" Watch "Family Health History Splainer"From Geisinger Health System Additional resources for patients Additional resources for patients
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RELATED CONTENTWhich of the following question would be most important for the nurse to ask first when obtaining the health history?Which of the following questions should the nurse ask first when obtaining the health history? "What is your major health concern at this time?" A nurse collects data about a client's family health history.
Why is it important to obtain a patient's complete health history?The purpose of obtaining a health history is to gather subjective data from the patient and/or the patient's family so that the health care team and the patient can collaboratively create a plan that will promote health, address acute health problems, and minimize chronic health conditions.
What kind of data makes up the health history?A comprehensive health history. This collects detailed information about a patient - including their biographical data, present health status, past medical history, family history, personal situation and a review of all body systems.
What information should be included in a health history quizlet?By combining this subjective data with objective data from the physical examination and diagnostic tests, you create a database to make a judgment about the person's health status.. Biographic data.. Source of the history.. Reason for seeking care.. Present health or history of present illness.. Past history.. Family history.. |