Tips for Talking With Your Doctor
Taking an active role in your health care can help you get the best possible care from your doctor – and the best way to help your doctor is to make sure he’s aware of your current health concerns, lifestyle, and family history. , and questions related to health.
When speaking with your doctor, it’s important to know that nothing is “off limits.” Many people withhold important information from their healthcare providers out of fear of judgment or embarrassment, but doing so only makes it harder for your doctor to do his job. In some cases,
Remember, your doctor has “heard and seen all” and won’t be shocked or upset by what you have to say—and, furthermore, he or she is prohibited by law and professional ethics from disclosing your confidential health information. In cases where you find that you’re having trouble getting over your embarrassment, or if you have something to discuss that makes you emotional, it may help to practice your “presentation” in advance or write something down ahead of time. can do You can hand it over to your doctor during your visit.
In addition to open and honest disclosure, here are some other tips that can help you communicate better with your physician:
Share symptoms.
Even if you feel better, it’s still important to let your doctor know if you have any new or “worse” symptoms. These include side effects of prescribed medications.
Provide your medical history.
You can keep a health journal for yourself on paper or in a notebook and bring it to your appointment. Be sure and also include your family health history.
Speak about your lifestyle.
Your doctor needs to know what’s going on in your life, such as whether you’re sexually active, smoke, drink, don’t eat meat, exercise, have a stressful job, prepare to move, deal with a loss, are thinking about having a baby, getting married. are about to or having trouble sleeping.
This includes medications, vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter medications prescribed by another physician.
Ask your doctor for a recommendation.
If your doctor recommends you take a specific action, such as changing your diet, and you’re not sure how to ask them if they have any suggestions. You may want to ask if your doctor has any suggestions for websites, books, or other sources of reliable information that can help you better understand healthcare issues that affect you or your family.
Don’t try to get too much sweat in one visit.
If you have many issues that you want to discuss with your doctor, it may be helpful to break them up into two or three appointments, so that you have enough time for thorough communication.
Exercise active listening.
Try to clear a distracted mind when it’s time for your appointment. If you’re using your smartphone or focusing too much on what your doctor wants to say next, you could miss important information. Repeat what you feel you heard to your doctor to make sure you’re on the same page.
Tips for Talking With Your Doctor
