Genealogy, the practice of finding your ancestors and charting out your family tree, has become one of the most practiced hobbies worldwide. People of all ages are digging into old family records and getting back to their roots with a myriad of different tools and websites available to assist this growing passion. The stories and characters people find in their family past can bring us pride, shame, entertainment, and most of all, give us a feeling of who we are and where we came from.

One aspect of genealogy that is less well known, but may be even more beneficial to you than collecting interesting family stories, is charting your family health pedigree. A family health pedigree is similar to a family tree in that it organizes your ancestors in generational groups showing parent-child relationships, as well as marriages and siblings. However, a family health pedigree differs from a typical family tree pedigree in that it records certain health issues, illnesses and disorders individuals in a family have had, and shows trends of those illnesses and disorders through families.

Scientists have long known that certain disorders are genetically linked, and even that parents can pass on a genetic weakness or tendency for certain illnesses and diseases to their children and grandchildren. But the extent to which illnesses, diseases and disorders, or even age of death are affected by heredity is largely unknown. Charting a family health pedigree can make trends and patterns in the health of a family easier to spot, and this in turn can help individuals become more aware of health threats to which they and their children may be more susceptible. This of course, can be key to preventing health problems from ever developing.

For example, a member of a family that has a strong history of diabetes for several generations clearly marked on a family health pedigree might be inspired to make smart dietary and healthy living choices for him or herself and his or her children, as well as be particularly motivated to get frequent blood sugar checkups he or she might otherwise miss.

As an individual reaches the age at which his or her ancestors began to sicken and die, that individual may want to see a doctor more frequently and be tested and screened for family diseases on a regular basis to catch any problems in the early stages before it is too late.

Knowing your family health pedigree can also serve as a warning for potential health issues your children may face, allowing you to make informed decisions as you prepare for the arrival of a new baby, or decide whether or not you want to immunize your child.

Being familiar with, and charting your family health pedigree is valuable for so many reasons. You can start with collecting health information from your parents, grandparents, and any surviving relatives and go from there. There are also experts available to help you in many family health pedigree businesses.