A Roman poet, Virgil, said, “The greatest wealth is health.” More than 2,000 years later, that statement still rings true. While scheduling and going to doctor’s appointments can feel like a full-time job, it’s important to stay up to date on your annual exams and doctor’s appointments to ensure your physical and mental health is where it should be.
However, just showing up to your appointments may not be enough. It’s important to provide your doctor with all the information they need to have a full understanding of your health. Here are five things you can bring with you to make sure you are getting the most out of your next doctor appointment.
Family History
Your family history is one of the key indicators of your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
“It’s important to know your family history and your own personal history, because that will dictate what I do as a provider, what services I need to provide for you, and where I might need to send you for screenings or specialist appointments,” said Dr. Michael Sterner, primary care physician at McLaren Greater Lansing Family Medicine.
If you have a family history of cancer, you may need to start some screenings at an earlier age, so it’s important for your doctor to have that information, and similarly, if you have a family history of diabetes or heart disease, your doctor may request labs for cholesterol or an A1C to ensure your numbers are in a healthy range.
Health Journal
If you are experiencing digestive concerns, keep a log of the foods you are eating. If you have diabetes, keep a log of your blood sugars. If you have high blood pressure, take it multiple times a day and write down your results.
“I tell patients to write down if they have questions or are experiencing symptoms they can’t explain,” said Dr. Sterner. “Journaling how often it is happening or how they are feeling in the moment can really help me determine the best path forward to finding a solution.”
List of Medications
“Most medications we can see if they have been prescribed in our electronic medical record system (EMR). However, that doesn’t tell me what you are actually taking,” said Dr. Sterner. “I had a patient who was taking melatonin instead of metformin. The patient had accidentally confused the two and didn’t know why he was still experiencing symptoms; the patient physically brought in all of the medications and we were able to identify what was happening and got it corrected.”
Many times, people are also taking vitamins or other over-the-counter medication that may react to prescribed medication. It’s important to know all medications/vitamins you are taking and share that information with your provider.
List of Any Providers You Have Seen in the Past Two Years
It’s important to let your primary care provider know if you have visited an emergency room, urgent care, or a specialist in the past two years and the reason why. This can help them understand if you have something else going on that you might need extra care for.
“Having a list of all of the doctors you have seen in the past two years is really helpful for me to know so I understand your full health history,” said Dr. Sterner. “A list of providers and their contact information is also useful for us to get copies of your medical records.”
Support Person
Often there is a stigma around health, especially mental health; however, it’s important to have someone you trust be a part of your care. Especially as you age, there is a lot of information covered at each doctor’s appointment and it’s easy to leave and forget instructions or parts of the information. That’s why it’s important to have a support person go with you. They can help take notes or ask key questions that you might not be thinking of in the moment.
While taking care of your health is a journey, it isn’t one you must walk alone. McLaren Greater Lansing has a team of primary care providers here to offer you or your loved ones compassionate and comprehensive health care.
If you or a loved one are looking for a new primary care provider, click here to see a list of doctors accepting new patients within 6-8 weeks.
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