You've probably seen your chart at your doctor's office. In fact, you may have charts at several doctors' offices. If you've been in the hospital, you have a chart there, too. To keep track of all this information, it's a good idea to keep your own records.

What kind of information would you put in a personal health record? You could start with

• Your name, birth date, blood type and emergency contact
• Date of last physical
• Dates and results of tests and screenings
• Major illnesses and surgeries, with dates
• A list of your medicines, dosages and how long you've taken them
• Any allergies
• Any chronic diseases
• Any history of illnesses in your family