Noteworthy

National Family Health History Day is celebrated on November 22, 2018.

Every year, the U.S. Surgeon General declares Thanksgiving Day to be National Family Health History Day. A family health history is a record of medical and health information about a person and his or her blood relatives. It can give clues to conditions that may run in a family and can help identify individuals who are at an increased risk of developing those conditions.

The easiest way to get information about family health history is to talk with relatives about their past and current health issues. Many families gather together for the Thanksgiving holiday. During this time, multiple generations of family, who might not often talk with one another, can discuss health issues and answer questions. Family gatherings are a valuable opportunity to collect an accurate family health history.

Several resources are available to collect and record health information about family members at any time of year. It is important to keep this information up-to-date and share it with a health care professional regularly.