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You may have heard that you should tell your doctor everything, honestly, they’ve seen it all. Moreover, lying during the examination is not really useful.
However, the doctor’s office can be an intimidating place, so you may be afraid to express yourself openly, ask specific questions, or worry about sounding off. Remember that your doctor wants to help you, and the best way to support them in their work is to be honest and transparent with them.
We asked primary care physicians (PCPs) for their input on improving the effectiveness of your routine checkups. In order to provide the best treatment possible, they reveal what they want their patients to give up below.
7 Checkup Routines That Primary Care Physicians Think You’ll Abandon
1. Being Dishonest About Your Lifestyle Choices
It is customary for your doctor to inquire about your use of alcohol or tobacco products. Inquiries may also be made regarding the use of vaping and recreational drugs.
While the perceived dangers may make you feel a little embarrassed to bring these items to a medical professional, lying to your doctor doesn’t fully understand your lifestyle choices and can negatively impact your health.
Nora Lansen, MD, a family medicine doctor in New York City and virtual clinical director at Galileo, tells LIVESTRONG.com that “health care providers are not there to judge your choices.” “We don’t expect anyone to be perfect.”
2. Forgetting to Mention the Medications You’re Taking
Be prepared to discuss any prescription medications you are given with your PCP, even if the prescription is written by a different doctor or specialist.
UTHealth Houston family medicine specialist Elena Zamora, MD, advises her patients to be open and honest about whatever medications they take, including whether they’re taking them as directed.
“Some patients may not be able to take their medication twice a day as prescribed, which may lead to the doctor prescribing more medication instead of repeating the prescribed dose,” Dr. Zamora explains.
Additionally, some medications have interactions with certain foods, medical conditions, or other medications that prevent them.
This may affect how your doctor plans to proceed with your treatment plan.
3. Assuming They Don’t Need to Know About the Supplements You’re Taking
Even if nutritional supplements are sold without a prescription, you should notify your doctor if you take them.
“Some supplements can be dangerous if you have certain medications or take other medications or supplements,” Dr. Lansen explains.
Using supplements isn’t always easy; They may worsen your symptoms or interfere with certain medications. For example, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. says that high doses of vitamin A supplements can harm your liver, and that vitamin K supplements can interact with blood thinners.
4. Requesting Lab Work You May Not Need
Your doctor may request some lab tests at your annual checkup or perhaps sooner. Although obtaining baseline values regularly is a good idea, and certain tests can aid in the screening process for medical disorders, not all conditions need to be screened for.
Certain tests that are not routine procedures and may not be included in the annual checkup are expected by some people.
For example, Dr. According to Zamora, many patients look forward to annual thyroid and anemia screenings. Although some tests may pique your interest, doctors are not allowed to request lab work unless there is a legitimate medical need.
“If you don’t have symptoms or an existing medical indication, ordering these labs is inappropriate,” she says.
5. Expecting a Prescription for Antibiotics
According to the National Library of Medicine, antibiotics are drugs that help treat bacterial illnesses. Antibiotics are a useful tool for treating illnesses like strep throat, but there are some myths associated with them that medical professionals want you to be aware of.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that antibiotics are ineffective in treating viral infections. That is, according to the CDC, they are ineffective against viruses that cause colds, flu, Covid-19 and some sinus or ear infections.
Furthermore, some reasons for asking for antibiotics when you don’t need them can be counterproductive.
6. Asking for Off-Label Prescriptions
A lot of thought goes into writing a prescription. A study report published in Clinical Medicine in October 2016 states that the original diagnosis is the most important factor that should be taken into account. On the other hand, some individuals need prescription drugs for conditions they don’t have.
Dr. Zamora cites the widely used drug Ozempic as an example. Weight loss is one of the negative effects, however it is allowed to be used in people with diabetes. Off-label use will apply to the prescription if the patient does not have diabetes.
Although they have the authority to prescribe off-label medications, doctors may deny your request for any reason. When it comes to Ozempic, giving the drug to non-diabetics who want to lose weight can create supply issues for those who do diabetes and need it for its intended use.
7. Holding Questions or Concerns Until Your Next Office Visit
Visiting your doctor can be a process. There may be long waiting times, paperwork and insurance approval processes. Doctors want their patients to know that it’s acceptable if they have a long list of questions and concerns to discuss with them when their appointment finally arrives.
You don’t have to wait until your next appointment to have your questions answered if you forget anything at the last minute. Megan S. Williams, MD, an internal medicine specialist in Austin, Texas, advises patients to follow up with their doctor or contact them during appointments.
“Let your medical team know if you need anything,” she advises, noting that routine test results and prescription refills are often handled with a call to your doctor’s office.
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