GEN-ITALIAN-L Archives

From: "bobbybats" <>
Subject: Measuring Your Family Health History Genograms
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2001 03:32:10 GMT

Measuring Your Family Health History
Genograms
by: Laura Heidekrueger

We as genealogists and family historians have always known
the importance of preserving the past for the future. Our
ancestors passed on a rich heritage of food, music, solid
values and their genes! Familial links are being recognized
daily between cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and
heart disease. It makes it even more critical that we
incorporate a detailed genogram, or family health history,
into our research.

A genogram, once left in the hands of geneticists can now be
produced on your own computer. They map out relationships
and traits that may otherwise be missed on a pedigree chart.
A health history report can be generated with your favorite
genealogy program. Either way, issues in interpretation and
privacy arise. Interpretation of all information from
compiled genograms or health reports should only be made by
a licensed physician. Any recommendations regarding life
style changes in diet, excersise or treatment must be done
with your physicians knowledge and approval. Family health
histories are tools for your doctor to use.

Privacy of all medical information is essential. Medical
information in genealogy programs can invade privacy, even
if the ancestors are long deceased, especially if published
on the internet. Remember, your ancestors medical data is
yours and your descendants also.

A well documented genogram should include 3-4 generations of
health data. A series of standard symbols are used.

Information that should always be included are date, age
and cause of death. Health problems such as heart disease,
miscarriages, high blood pressure of living members.
Siblings in each generation are listed from the oldest on
the left to youngest on the right. Many make more than one
genogram. Remember the privacy issues. We must tread lightly
when it comes to entering habits like drug abuse, alcoholism
and abusive relationships and who is entitled to see the
information you compile.

Not only are these used for strict medical problems. They
can become a pleasant experience to map out other traits you
and yours have inherited. For instance, eye color, artistic
qualities, temperament, musical ability. Once done you can
see at a glance how heredity plays such a great role in our
lives. We can then see the great gifts our ancestor passed
down to us!

This information is provided by Chicago Genealogy and Family
History Research Services, active Genealogy researchers for
over 14 years.

This thread:

• Measuring Your Family Health History Genograms by "bobbybats" <>