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If there’s one place you really want to be totally honest about the personal details of your life, it’s at a doctor’s appointment. Sure, it can be embarrassing to talk about your body parts and functions, but holding back on that information isn’t helping you in the long run. Doctors can’t do their jobs and treat you properly if they don’t know what’s really going on with you.
To help improve your health outcomes, these are the five things you shouldn’t hide from your doctor.
- Bladder or bowel problems - If you have difficulty going to the bathroom, abdomen pain or constipation, it can not only be very uncomfortable, it could indicate a serious problem, like kidney infections or intestinal tumors. Issues like constipation and incontinence also affect a lot of people and telling your doc about these bladder or bowel issues can help them find solutions.
- Sex and reproductive health - Whether it’s pain during or after sex, irregular or painful periods, or sexually transmitted infections, your doctor needs to know what you’re experiencing. Overall health and quality of life are impacted by sexual well-being and reproductive health, so put your embarrassment aside and be up front with your doc.
- Diet quality and quantity - An unhealthy diet, irregular eating schedule and extreme dieting can lead to health problems, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about what you’re eating. This helps them find causes of issues, help plan medication and advise you on what to avoid or add to your diet.
- Medications - Let your healthcare provider know about all the over the counter meds you’re taking and whether they’re working or not to treat the issues you take them for and any side effects they cause. That way your doctor can monitor your progress and find alternative strategies where needed.
- Supplements, self-help and lifestyle - Your doc also needs to know about supplements and vitamins you take, as well as any alcohol or tobacco use and your exercise and sleep habits and psychological state. Knowing these details, as well as any relevant information about your social history, occupation, family life and financial health can help them in treating you.
Source: Eat This, Not That