Usually I go into a doctor’s appointment armed with a million questions, but I’ve never thought too deeply in advance about what information the medical professionals might need from me.
That’s unfortunate, because coming to any provider equipped with at least some background knowledge about your medical history can help you get better, more personalized and targeted care, says primary-care internist Foster Montalbano of Springfield Family Medicine. “In our society today, you have to realize that the only person who is truly invested in your health, besides your mother, is you,” he laughs, before getting down to serious business: “Given the fact that a lot of people today don’t [have or keep up] with a primary-care provider whose job is to keep track of basic vitals like blood pressure, weight and body mass index, as well as other key information . . . it is incumbent on the patient to know these things and to have them at the ready when needed.”
Family physician Vincent WinklerPrins, an associate professor of family medicine at the Georgetown University Medical Center, suggests that everyone keep a portable, personal health record of some sort — paper works fine, though there are online and flash drive options as well.
So, what specific information should you chronicle and stay up-to-date with?
Immunization status. Most parents are keenly aware of the importance of documenting their children’s vaccinations for school entry, sports clearance and the like, but how about your own shot record? “The last time adults think about immunizations is generally when they go off to college, but [they] may not be aware that things need updating or that there are new vaccines they should consider,” depending on such factors as age, health status and travel plans, says WinklerPrins. For example, he notes, it’s important once a decade to get a tetanus booster. That shot is now typically combined with a vaccine against pertussis, or whooping cough, which has been on the rise in recent years.
Drug allergies. It’s important to know not only what medications you’re allergic to but also what your exact reaction to each offender is. “Do you get a bad rash, have breathing difficulties, serious abdominal pain or a loss of blood pressure? Did you have to go to the emergency room, or was it just an intolerance to a drug — like it made your stomach upset and you threw up?” says WinklerPrins. “The more specific you can be, the better.”
Name and dosage
of
current medications. This includes a vigilant recounting of all of the over-the-counter drugs you’re taking, as well as any vitamins or supplements. “We need to know precisely what you’re taking, because many medications may have drug interactions . . . and side effects can run people into trouble,” says WinklerPrins. Montalbano points out that there’s more to know than just how much of which drug you’re taking, such as the full range of their potential side effects and proper storage instructions. “There’s no excuse for patients not to empower themselves, because every prescription you pick up from the pharmacy has a three- to four-page handout that’s chock-full of information,” he says. “The more you know, the easier it is to have a conversation with your doctor about any issues or problems that come up.”
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