Interested in Developing a “Family Health Portrait”?

We’ve known for a long time that your family health history can have a profound impact on your risks for certain inheritable diseases and illnesses.  Until now, there hasn’t been an easy way to track your family health history. 

The Surgeon General’s Office has developed an internet-based tool called “My Family Health Portrait” which makes it easy for you to record your family health history.  I’ve been told that the tool is easy to access on the web and simple to fill out- although I haven’t done it myself.  It assembles your information and makes a “pedigree” family tree that you can download. It’s a “private” tool in the sense that it doesn’t store or keep the information that you input.  

Using My Family Portrait allows you to: 1) enter your family health history; 2) print your family health history to share with family or your health care provider; and 3) save your family health history so you can update it over time.   Here’s where to learn more about the new tool.