In 2004, the U.S. Surgeon General Office has declared Thanksgiving Day, National Family History Day.
According to the US Surgeon General, most Americans know that family history is important to health and a recent survey found that 96% of Americans believe that knowing their family health history is important. Yet, the same survey found that only one-third of Americans have ever tried to gather and write down their family’s health history.
Tracing illnesses suffered by your blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take preventative action to keep you and your family healthy. Because family health history is such a powerful screening tool, the Surgeon General has created a new computerized tool to help make it fun and easy for anyone to create a sophisticated portrait of their family’s health.
We used this free “Family Health Portrait” software program to enter our family history. We just downloaded it from the Web and followed to set up instructions. The program is easy to use and it is quick to complete. We did have to call our mother for some help completing the information. Once you are done, there are a few reports you can print. Share these reports with your family physician and other relatives.
The Web site also answers many questions on family health history. We think you will find it interesting and a helpful resource for your family.
Click here to access the Surgeon General’s Family History Web site.