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Healthy aging and longevity

Creating a family medical history

By , Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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Collecting a medical history from relatives can help people understand what diseases they may be more susceptible to in the future. These might include certain cancers or chronic conditions. Gathering a history can be challenging. When doing so, it’s important to respect people’s privacy and to approach the subject with sensitivity. Holiday gatherings can present an opportunity to get started. Using an online tool can help the process.

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About the Author

photo of Kelly Bilodeau

Kelly Bilodeau, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Kelly Bilodeau is the former executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later went on to become a managing editor at HCPro, a Boston-area healthcare publishing company, … See Full Bio
View all posts by Kelly Bilodeau
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