No matter how you connect with family this year during the holidays, start the conversation about your health history. Many health problems tend to run in families. Creating a family history can help you and your family be aware of possible health risks so you can take steps to reduce them.

A family health history is a record of health information about a person and their close relatives. A complete record includes information from three generations of relatives, including children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins.

Some of the questions you can ask include:

• Do you have any chronic diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes, or health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol?

• Have you had any other serious diseases, such as cancer or stroke?

• How old were you when each of these diseases and health conditions was diagnosed?

• What is our family’s ancestry – from what countries did our ancestors originate?

• For relatives who have died, ask about the cause and age of death.

Knowing your family health history allows you to take steps to reduce your risk.