As an immigrant, understanding your family medical history can provide invaluable insights into potential health risks, hereditary conditions, and predispositions that may affect you and your family members.
Once you have gathered all this information, what’s equally important is to be able to organize them so that they can be easily reviewed by your healthcare providers in the U.S.
In this guide, we will explore the importance of knowing your family’s medical history and how to use a family medical history checklist to present information to the doctors in your new home, so you and your family get the best care possible.
What Does Family Medical History Mean?
What does it mean to have a family health history, and why is it relevant to your health? Your family health history is a record of diseases, conditions, and health-related information within your immediate and extended family.
It includes details about but is not limited to illnesses that your parents, grandparents, siblings, and other close relatives have experienced throughout their lives. Understanding this information helps create a comprehensive picture of your family’s health background, identifying patterns and potential genetic risks that may impact your well-being.
Why Should You Know Your Family Medical History?
How can knowing your family medical history benefit your health? With this knowledge, you gain a deeper understanding of your genetic makeup and potential areas of higher risk for disease. With the guidance of trained medical professionals, they will allow you to make informed decisions about your healthcare, such as undergoing specific screenings or adopting preventive measures.
For your healthcare providers, your family medical history can give them essential insights into potential red flags and risk factors that may affect your health. This information will help them recommend appropriate screening tests and suggest preventive measures to reduce potential health risks for you.
How to Gather Your Family Health History Information
How can you start gathering information on your family health history? The easy way to start is to have open and honest conversations with your immediate and extended family members.
- Ask about any known medical conditions, chronic illnesses, or hereditary diseases that run in your family.
- Does anyone suffer from high cholesterol?
- Do you or a family member have a history of smoking?
- Any history of problems during pregnancy?
- Was someone diagnosed with drug use issues?
Use family gatherings as an opportunity to talk and gather health information and let your relatives know why you are asking these questions, as it may help them understand their own risk factors too. As you may not be able to contact them as easily after moving to the U.S., try to gather this information prior to your relocation.
More than Just Physical History: Mental Health Conditions
You need to also know if members of the family have any mental health conditions. While this subject may be taboo in some cultures, it is important to be able to provide a complete family health history to providers, especially as you immigrate to your new home in the U.S.A.
Different medications have different results depending on various physical and mental factors. The more information you can provide your doctor, the better care you’ll receive.
What Else Can You Do to Better Communicate Your Medical History with Doctors?
Collect family medical records, including hospital discharge summaries, old prescriptions, and laboratory test results, and any time when you or others were hospital patients and the reasons. These records can provide valuable insights into past diagnoses and medical conditions.
You should also consider translating any doctor information or medical history you already have into English. Furthermore, try to make sure your medicine and vaccine list includes generic names alongside brand names.
How Can You Organize and Document Your Family Medical History?
The easiest way is to create a family health tree, or any chart and table that can visually represent your family history. They should include information about each family member and relative’s medical conditions and the age of onset. This can help identify patterns and potential risk factors.
Are there any online resources available to assist with documenting your family medical history?
Yes, there are online tools and resources designed specifically for this purpose. These resources can help you organize and store your family medical history in a convenient and accessible manner.
Some resources include:
- HealthSpek
- Apple Health App
- Your Insurance Provider’s App
- or use a Cloud Storage solution like Dropbox, Google Storage or Icloud to store documents and scans.
The Benefits of Knowing Your Family Medical History in Your Healthcare
You may be wondering just how your family medical history can influence doctor visits. When you visit a doctor, if you can share knowledge of your family medical history, that can significantly impact the quality of care you receive. Healthcare professionals consider your family health history an essential tool for assessing your risk factors and suggesting preventive measures to mitigate potential health risks.
Your Family Health History Checklist
As a helpful resource, here is a checklist you can copy or print out to remind you of the information you need to gather:
- Collect family medical records, including hospital discharge summaries and test results
- Create a visual family health tree with an emphasis on any cancer or heart issues
- Utilize online resources for organization and storage
- Translate any existing doctor information or medical history into English
- Include generic names alongside brand names on your vaccination history list
- Print off copies for your first visit to your primary care physician
Preparation is The First Step to Protecting Your Family
Understanding your family medical history empowers you to make informed decisions about your healthcare. It helps doctors assess your risk factors, tailor treatment plans, and provide personalized advice.
Additionally, securing health insurance ensures that you and your family have access to quality healthcare services while protecting you from the financial burden associated with medical expenses.
Remember, your health and the well-being of your loved ones in the U.S. can be secured with some preparation before your next doctor’s visit
