A medical history is an important diagnostic tool. It allows the physician to eliminate certain diagnoses and add others based on conditions the patient has previously been treated for, the medical conditions that the patient's relatives have suffered from, and other characteristics such as age and physical condition that can indicate the onset of disease. A simple history generally includes - The patient's age, race, weight, height and other physical characteristics. - Any diseases the patient is currently being treated for, and any diseases recently suffered by the patient.