Honesty in the Doctor-Patient Dialogue
In order for healthcare professionals to adequately diagnose and treat patients, Dr. Ghahary says it’s important for patients to be as open and honest as possible with their physician. According to a study done by WebMD a few years ago, they discovered that patients omitted certain facts or stretched the truth on matters relating to their health. It’s important for patients to be completely transparent when it comes to discussing their health, as the more honest a patient is, the better quality of care they will receive.
In some cases, patients will simply forget to tell their doctor about everything that’s gone on with their health – particularly if they don’t go for annual check-ups. However, in many cases patients often omit information or are reluctant to share details about their health out of embarrassment or fear of being judged. However, physicians strive to put their patients best interest first, and there is nothing that a patient could tell their physician that they should feel embarrassed about, as what you tell your doctor is strictly confidential (except in the event where certain types of abuse and violence is involved; in that case, physicians have a duty to report said abuse to the proper entities.) In other cases, patients may fail to share certain details to avoid getting a lecture, or because they don’t want to disappoint their physician.
Below is a list of some of the all-too-common things that a patient may fail to tell their physician about:
TOBACCO USE
As a family physician, Dr. Ghahary encourages anyone who smokes to quit – even offering some tips on smoking cessation. Unfortunately, without determination or willpower, quitting smoking is something that can be a challenge for many people. If you were initially successful in your attempts to quit smoking but picked up the habit again, don’t lead your doctor to believe that it’s something you no longer do. Smoking increases your risk of things like cancer, blood clots, and stroke, and it can also raise your blood pressure. For example, if your blood pressure was high at a recent visit with your physician, he or she might overlook the fact that tobacco use may be the cause if they’re under the impression that you’re not a smoker or have quit smoking, so always let your doctor know if you’re lighting up.
DRINKING ALCOHOL
Alcohol use is something that individuals often try to hide or are in denial about – especially if they drink in excess – and there are many reasons why an individual may develop a dependency to alcohol. It can run in the family, could be the result of trauma, or for another reason. Over time, excessive alcohol abuse can do a number on the body. It can cause problems with the brain, the stomach, can harm the liver, pancreas, heart, bones, central nervous system, and even colon. Discussing how much alcohol you drink is important so that your doctor can properly inform you as to how it might be impacting your body. Furthermore, it can also be a good discussion to have so that your physician can provide you with the necessary options for getting treatment for alcoholism if it’s something he or she thinks you might require.
DIET AND EXERCISE
If weight loss is something you happen to struggle with, then you’re certainly not alone. In fact, it’s not uncommon for individuals to have weight that yo-yos up and down. This is mostly due to fad diets, which aren’t good if you’re looking to achieve long-term success. However, we can also struggle with weight if we aren’t making certain lifestyle changes, such as improving our eating habits. As a patient, discussing what you eat can sometimes feel slightly embarrassing, but it’s an important discussion to have, as your doctor will not only be able to help you in improve your eating habits, but provide you with information on how healthy eating and exercise work hand in hand, and give you tips to be successful in your weight loss journey.
MEDICATIONS
Your physician needs to be aware of any medications that you may have been prescribed by another physician – especially if they are medications that you’re still taking – as there’s the potential that they could interact with anything new you take, which includes certain over-the-counter medications. In addition, it’s also important to take your medications exactly as prescribed. Also be honest about any herbs and supplements you may be taking, as these, too, have the potential of interacting with different medications. Aside from drug interactions, your physician needs to be aware of what you’re taking as certain side effects that you might experience could be attributed to medication and not be the cause of a serious health problem.
When you’re dishonest with your physician, you’re not only putting your own health at risk, but it could lead to certain things being overlooked and symptoms being misinterpreted. This has the potential of doing serious damage to your overall wellbeing, and it could even be fatal.
