Family history (medicine)
Encyclopedia
In medicine
, a family history consists of information about disorders from which the direct blood relatives of the patient have suffered. Genealogy
typically includes very little of the medical history
of the family
, but the medical history could be considered a specific subset of the total history of a family. Knowledge of your family history can help identify a predisposition to develop certain illnesses, and enable you to avoid triggers in your environment.
s, autoimmune disorders, mental disorders, diabetes
, cancer
) to assess whether a person is at risk of developing similar problems.
Family histories may be imprecise because of various possible reasons:
Some medical conditions are carried only by the female line, and tracing female ancestors can be difficult in societies that change the woman's family name when she marries. Death records often give the maiden name of the deceased, and possibly also the deceased's mother’s maiden name. Some of the most useful records for tracing women are wills and probate records.
Other medical conditions are carried only by the male line. Tracing male ancestors may be impossible if the conception is due to rape or sexual activity outside of a marriage.
, then they may develop similar symptoms without a genetic cause.
If a patient has a strong family history of a particular disorder (or group of disorders), this will generally lead to a lower threshold for investigating symptoms.
In diseases with a known hereditary component, many healthy people are now tested early to prevent the symptoms from developing. This has become accepted in cystic fibrosis
, hemochromatosis and various other disorders.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, a family history consists of information about disorders from which the direct blood relatives of the patient have suffered. Genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
typically includes very little of the medical history
Medical history
The medical history or anamnesis of a patient is information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information , with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing...
of the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
, but the medical history could be considered a specific subset of the total history of a family. Knowledge of your family history can help identify a predisposition to develop certain illnesses, and enable you to avoid triggers in your environment.
Uses
Although often neglected, many healthcare professionals glean information on family morbidity of particular diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
s, autoimmune disorders, mental disorders, diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
) to assess whether a person is at risk of developing similar problems.
Family histories may be imprecise because of various possible reasons:
- Adoption, fostering, illegitimacy and adultery
- Lack of contact between close relatives
- Uncertainty about the relative's exact diagnosis
- In complex situations, a family treeFamily treeA family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure. The more detailed family trees used in medicine, genealogy, and social work are known as genograms.-Family tree representations:...
or genogramGenogramA genogram is a pictorial display of a person's family relationships and medical history. It goes beyond a traditional family tree by allowing the user to visualize hereditary patterns and psychological factors that punctuate relationships...
may be used to organize the resulting information.
Some medical conditions are carried only by the female line, and tracing female ancestors can be difficult in societies that change the woman's family name when she marries. Death records often give the maiden name of the deceased, and possibly also the deceased's mother’s maiden name. Some of the most useful records for tracing women are wills and probate records.
Other medical conditions are carried only by the male line. Tracing male ancestors may be impossible if the conception is due to rape or sexual activity outside of a marriage.
Consequences
Not all positive family histories imply a genetic cause. If various members of the same family have been exposed to the same toxinToxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
, then they may develop similar symptoms without a genetic cause.
If a patient has a strong family history of a particular disorder (or group of disorders), this will generally lead to a lower threshold for investigating symptoms.
In diseases with a known hereditary component, many healthy people are now tested early to prevent the symptoms from developing. This has become accepted in cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
, hemochromatosis and various other disorders.