Your family medical history will never be 100 percent complete. But at each stage, it will be useful. As time goes on, keep it updated as best you can. When new family members are born, add them to your list. As you hear of a blood relative's new diagnosis, or if you know someone has died, you'll want to reflect that in your history.
Among the most important steps is to share your document(s) at each major stage. Your siblings will find it helpful, and as your children get older, they will realize what a gift you have provided to them.
Additional Resources:
- Adam Healthcare Center List of Genetic Diseases
- March of Dimes List of Birth Defects
- National Institutes of Health List of Genetic Diseases
- Rootsweb List of Old Disease Names Compared to the Names We Use Today
- Information for Adoptees About Finding Health Information
- U.S. Surgeon General's Family Health Portrait tool for recording history
- Tracing Your Family Medical History from About.com's Guide to Genealogy
