One side benefit to genealogy research is that you can sometimes learn about your own destiny in the process. If you are able to determine the the types of diseases that your family members are predisposed to (especially those that led to their deaths), you could (potentially) discover a means to avoid the impact of these ailments on your own life.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has developed a very useful tool to collect a family health history, My Family Health Portrait. This is just one way to organize data as you recover it. When you are finished, you can provide the output to your health care practitioner.
In addition to the resource above, here are some additional examples of sites that can guide you in your pursuit of your family's health history:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Genealogy.com
Mayo Clinic
Some people begin researching their family history with the sole goal of finding out about their medical vulnerabilities. They may discover other items of value to a traditional genealogist, but may actually discount the information in the pursuit of purely health-related data. When you encounter someone like that Online, attempt to collect the data that you need while assisting them with if you are able.
On the other hand, you could encounter some resistence if you approach members of your family (or potential members, as you have successes in your research). Medical information is, after all, private. You may have to settle for simply reviewing death certificates of your ancestors. Use whatever data you can find to shape a health history to use during discussions with your doctor. Happy hunting!
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