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From heart disease to mental health to diabetes, across the spectrum of ill health your genetics play a critical role in how your future plays out.

A Legacy of Information

You might know that your talent for music came from your paternal grandmother or your child's sports ability from his father's side, but do you know what else has been passed down through the generations — specifically illnesses or predispositions to certain health problems?

"It's really a gift that you give your family. Even if you don't know anything about your family history in the past, start now and go forward and collect the information for yourself, your children and your grandchildren," says Robin Bennett , MS, CGC Senior Genetic Counselor & Clinic Manager Medical Genetics Clinics University of Washington Medical Genetics in Seattle, WA.

Key Facts:

The following key facts should be part of your health history. See sidebar for downloadable forms to complete.

• Your health facts: your birth date, race, ethnicity and nationality, which can alert you to illnesses that tend to occur in specific ethnic groups, any diseases and conditions with age at onset or diagnosis, along with treatments

• Birth and death dates of relatives, their relation to you and their race, ethnicity and nationality.

• Any health conditions they have, as well as treatments or surgeries, their date of birth and death along with the cause. Information can also be gathered from obituary notices, death certificates and, with appropriate permission from the next of kin, from medical records.

Addiction Issues

And don't overlook addiction, since there may be a genetic component, said Christina Zaleski, M.S., Certified Genetics Counselor at Wisconsin-based Marshfield Clinic, home to the largest population-based DNA biobank in the U.S. "While there is not specific genetic testing that can reveal whether or not a person is more susceptible to having addiction problems, by being aware of the family history of addictions one might be able to avoid exposure to habits that could more easily lead to addictions."

Widening the Net

Bennett recommends going back and forward two generations — your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins as well as your children and grandchildren. Expanding the pool of information can be especially useful in cases of sex-limited diseases such as breast or ovarian cancer, she adds. These could be masked if you have primarily male relatives, since that history doesn't have a chance to express itself but can still be present.

If family members are reluctant to share what they consider "personal information," Zaleski suggested "talking to them to explain the importance and how this information can benefit the whole family, including them, and their children as well. Offer to share a copy of the information you collect in your family."

Counseling and Testing

If your history indicates the possibility of inherited illnesses, you may want to consult with your primary care physician or a genetic counselor, said Bennett. "If you are looking at your family history and saying, ‘These things have occurred in my family. Could they happen to me or affect my children?' that's a reason to see a genetic counselor. Most insurance companies cover the cost of genetic counseling and often recommend it before any genetic testing. [This] will ensure that the appropriate tests are ordered, that they are done in an efficient and cost-effective way and that they will be relevant and meaningful."

Taylor Grant, author of "Health Matters: 8 Steps That Can Save Your Life — and Your Family's Health" and founder of Taylor Your Health, says a family history is one of the most powerful tools you and your doctor have for health planning. "[It] can help you protect your health in several ways including: diagnosing and treating conditions, deciding which tests you should have, taking steps to prevent or stave off certain conditions and determining the risk of you passing health conditions onto your children."

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