(HealthDay News) -- A health journal is meant to be a complete record of a person's medications, illnesses, symptoms, surgeries or procedures.

A health journal helps you and your doctor keep track of what makes you sick or what causes symptoms, and you can use it to become a healthier person.

Here are suggestions for what to include in your health journal, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Any illness or injury you've sustained.
• Any hospitalizations or surgeries.
• Any symptoms or allergies that you've had.
• OTC medications, prescription medications, supplements and vitamins that you take, including the dosage and how often you take them.
• Any diseases, conditions or illnesses that run in your family.