Knowing your health history is a family affair

As you gather with loved ones during the holiday season, it's always a good time to talk about your family. It's also a good time to talk about what runs in your family.

The U.S. Surgeon General's office is urging Americans to catch up on their family health history. Knowing the types of conditions and diseases that are common in your family's genetic makeup can help you get preventive care and possibly avoid serious illness.

My Family Health Portrait, an online tool developed for the Department of Health and Human Services, helps you securely collect and save your family's health history. The tool offers mobile access, so you can manage and update information easily on your phone or tablet.

To access the tool, go to nwsdy.li/familyhealth.