Whenever I go to the doctor and I’m asked about my family health history, my reply goes like this: “I think my mom’s great-grandma had cancer…but I’m not sure what kind…and her grandfather had cancer, too, but he adopted her, so does that count? My dad has high blood pressure and is kinda depressed.…I don’t know if he takes medication, though?” (As if the doctor is going to confirm or deny these questions.) The point is that I’m never quite sure what to say, because health history isn’t something I think about very often. I categorize it as stuff I can ask my parents when needed, but not information I actively need to know—and that’s naive. When diseases and conditions like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and high blood pressure (among many others) exist in your family, that means your risk goes up, and you’ll want to be mindful of any screenings, prevention tactics, or symptoms to watch for. Here’s how to get the conversation going in terms of educating yourself on your own health history, figuring out where you may be at risk, and not taking your health for granted.