Family History: Resources and Tools



To help focus attention on the importance of family history, the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have launched a national public health campaign. The U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative encourages all American families to learn more about their family health history. Health managers and health care providers may provide this information to parents and staff, thus empowering them to take charge of their health.

What is family health history? Family health history refers to information about diseases and health conditions that affect you and your close blood relatives. Family health history is one of the most important risk factors for diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Family health information can be collected and recorded to help determine your risk of developing certain diseases. More>>

Family History: Resources and Tools. DHHS/CDC. 2007. English.

Last Reviewed: October 2010