Creating a Health Journal

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What is a health journal?

A health journal is a complete record of your health. You keep the health journal yourself. The journal helps you keep track of every aspect of your health.

What is included in a health journal?

A health journal should keep track of your overall health. Some of the things you should include are:

• Illness or injury
• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Allergies
• Medicines, vitamins or supplements that you are taking and how often you take them
• Diseases or illness in your immediate family

When you fill in your health history, be sure to include the dates. For example, if you were hospitalized, write down the date that you were admitted and the date you were discharged. You can also include notes on how you were feeling.

Why should I have a health journal?

A health journal is an easy way to keep track of your health. By recording your health history, you can keep track of illnesses, medicines, treatments and procedures. Be sure to take your health journal to your healthcare provider’s appointments. This will help you provide your healthcare provider with exact information about your health. Your healthcare provider can also help you keep your health journal up-to-date.

Keeping track of your health history helps you to be an informed, knowledgeable patient. Knowledge allows you to take more control of your healthcare. A health journal can also help you keep yourself healthy. Your journal will help you understand what makes you sick and how to take better care of yourself.

How do I start my journal?

It’s best to include as much health information as possible.

If you’ve had surgeries or illnesses in the past, write those down. You don’t need to know the exact dates. Once you’ve filled in as much information as you can, start recording your current health history.

Starting your journal

This is an example of a health journal. You can customize your journal to include any information that you want.

Date	Illness/Injury
	Hospitalizations
	Surgeries