Telling Your Doctor The Truth

Now it seems like this would be obvious, but in truth, many of us withhold information from our doctors.  Perhaps you consider some of the information as irrelevant and not really vital or maybe you are embarrassed about certain facts. Be honest with yourself, do you fudge and hedge a little over some of the details?

According to Barbara Korsch, MD, author of The Intelligent Patient’s Guide to the Doctor-Patient Relationship, “We tend to believe that if our doctor likes and respects us, we’ll receive better treatment. “  She feels that patients keep quiet for what seem to be good reasons, but in reality, it is more that they are afraid to look bad in front of their doctors. The doctor’s office is not a confessional and one shouldn’t place doctors in the position as some sort of moral compass for their lives.

Revealing all about yourself to you doctor not only improves the quality of your health care, in extreme cases, it could save your life.  The ‘what ifs’ could take up this entire page, so we will suffice it to say your doctor makes decisions about your health from the information you provide.  If you provide faulty information to your doctor, the health care you receive in return may not be what is truly best for you.

According to doctors, these are the most common things that you hedge about and why you shouldn’t.

Diets:

Let’s face it, there are some crazy diets out there, crash diets to lose weight, fasting diets to cleanse the colon or whatever the newest fad is that week.  You may fudge a bit on the details to your doctor because you know he might not approve.

Extreme diets may include laxatives or stimulants.  Healthier versions of crash diets like the juice diet have risks to the body, even if you are healthy and strong.  Cleansing diets can strip away needed nutrients.  Checking in with your doctor before you start your diet will ensure that you are dieting in a healthy and safe manner.

Family History:

You probably have a different doctor than your parents or other family members, so your doctor will ask about your family history. You may think that your uncle’s stroke or your sister’s depression doesn’t involve your health but your doctor may think differently.

Family history helps doctors determine whether added screenings are necessary for a wide range of diseases including heart disease and cancer.  Even high blood pressure running in the family may change how a doctor chooses to treat your hypertension. Some questions may seem like they don’t fit in with the line of questioning but there is reason for them so always answer as completely as possible.  With the symptoms you describe, family history can point the doctor in a different and better direction than what may be obvious.

Prescribed Pills:

The doctor gives you a prescription and you don’t take all of the pills.  It doesn’t really matter why you didn’t take them.  Maybe insurance didn’t cover that brand.  Or perhaps, you just never made it to the pharmacy that day and then forgot all about the script.  You might simply forget to take one and then another or just stop taking them at all especially if you start feeling better.  Then, during your follow-up appointment with your doctor you are too embarrassed to admit that you did not take them.

The doctor has to assume that the pills didn’t work if you say you took them and the symptoms are still present.  He may then decide to increase the dosage, switch medications or pursue another avenue for treatment.  This action could put your recovery at risk or even threaten your health. Be sure to admit to any supplements you are taking as they may interact badly with any new medications.

Sexual History:

Doctors have to ask about your sexual history and even if you don’t want to tell the truth, this is one time that it is essential that you do.  You may tend to ‘not remember’ or skip certain periods of your life but just so you know, the questions that your doctor asks are relevant.

Sitting on an examination table with only paper draped over you doesn’t give one the confidence to talk about sex and informing your doctor about sexual habits, past partners and especially any sexual violence can be a shattering experience.  But your doctor needs to know, not to judge you, but merely to ascertain the risks to your health, which is his primary concern. This is a sensitive subject to be sure, but the long term effects to any untreated disease that you have come into contact to may be life threatening. As a side note, talking to your doctor about making your sex life better isn’t a bad idea either.  Between hormones and therapy, there is quite a bit of help out there. It is merely a matter of being open and honest with your doctor.

Second Opinions:

How many of us cheat on our doctors?  Do you tell you primary doctor when you have been seen by another physician?  Many don’t, for fear of hurting their doctor’s feelings or perhaps just to avoid the whole subject.

Being treated at the clinic for a slight accident doesn’t seem like it would matter to your doctor, but it does.  Being treated for any type of condition by another doctor isn’t illegal, but it is risky for the two doctors to not know about each other.  This includes alternative medicine as well, such as your chiropractors and any physical therapy.  Sharing test results saves the doctor from duplicating tests and saves you money at the same time.  Treatments plans need to be compatible and medication information should also be shared to avoid a negative drug interaction.

Why look at restricting the amount of dietary fat you ingest?  Look at these many great reasons:

When you trim the fat, you can lose weight and sustain a healthier weight much easier.  Fat is more calorie dense, meaning it has more calories per amount of measurement, than protein and carbohydrates.  So now we can say that you can take in fewer calories by ingesting fewer fat.

Many physicians and scientists believe that less fat means lowering the risk of heart disease.  One of the main reasons for heart disease has been saturated fat in particular as it raises cholesterol levels.

As some believe, you can lower the risk of cancer by cutting the fat.  While there is still much research to be done, many believe that cutting or trimming fat can help you avoid many forms of cancer.

When you cut down high fat foods from your diet, you can substitute low fat, healthier alternatives such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and things like these.  And usually you can snack on these items to your heart’s content since they are so healthy for you!

Here are some pointers to figure out how to limit your consumption of dietary fat:

Many spreads are high in fat, including peanut butter and cream cheese.  In their place try low fat alternatives such as apple butter, reduced fat cream cheese, sugarless jellies or jams, fruit spreads, apple butter, reduced fat mayonnaise and mustard.

When you do have foods that are high in fat, make sure these are exceptional treats, not everyday items!

When it comes to salad dressing opt for the low fat or nonfat ones.  You can do this in restaurants, or ask for salad dressing on the side so you can control your portion.

Forgo butter and sour cream on that baked potato and prefer for nonfat or low fat yogurt; also try cottage cheese, salsa, steamed broccoli, and low fat or nonfat sour cream.

Seasonings can dress up food so you can forgo butter and other fat-laden toppings.  Try seasoning blends or herbs, salsa, green onions, lemon juice, and other items for your foods and your salads as well.

When you do use a dressing or topping that is high in fat, use it sparingly.  Remember to use small amounts of the spread such as a teaspoon of cheese instead of a tablespoon.
Always consider reduced fat dairy products.  You may still enjoy the same flavor with less fat when you prefer 2% or skim milk over whole milk, or other items such as butter and ice cream can also have low fat substitutes.

Cheeses now days come in several low fat alternatives.  This means soft cheeses, hard cheeses, and even cheese slices!

Seek for low fat alternatives to the foods you snack on most.  Foods that are packaged such as candies, different types of cake, and wafers all should have substitutes.

Potato chips are very high in fat so instead opt for unbuttered popcorn, pretzels, and baked chips.

Of course how you prepare the foods will be important as the foods you choose.  To follow this, you would have to trim the fat off of chicken and turkey and find leaner cuts for beef, pork, and fish.

Additionally, learn to broil, bake, or grill your foods rather than frying.  If you must fry foods, try a pan that allows the fat to drain rather than to be submerged in the fat.

All this does not have to be boring.  Look around for low fat recipes and low fat meals that you can make quickly and easily and which store well.  If you educate yourself on your options and put forth a bit of effort when shopping and cooking, you can get lean cuts of meat that are prepared in a healthy way for you. To find out more click low fat diet.

Some Weight Loss Tips To Look Out For:

Lets have a look of some weight loss tips to start with:

Don’t expect a miracle: The weight you have gained throughout the pregnancy period took 9 months to accumulate. Don’t expect it to vanish just like that. Crash diets are not recommended for anyone, especially breastfeeding moms. So give yourself some time, to understand the procedure of weight loss and to let the measures work upon you. Eventually you will lose weight.

Start off slowly: Allow your body to heal properly after pregnancy before starting on heavy workouts, aerobics, etc. It takes 2 to 4 month’s time for the body to get back in to normal mode and regain its strength. Meanwhile, you can do light exercises like walking, stretches, breathing exercises and generally try to be active, this will help in weight loss procedure.

Eat sensibly: Don’t do on a diet which will rob you off the nutrients. You are feeding the baby, so take care that you have proper nutritious food. Avoid excess fat, spices and junk food as much as you can.
Have lots of water: Keep yourself hydrated, this will help your body in flushing out toxins and it’s a good way to lose the pregnancy weight gain. Don’t go for sodas, instead have natural unsweetened juices.

Breastfeeding helps: Yes, if you are breastfeeding your baby, it will aid in losing weight after pregnancy. Don’t starve yourself, have a balanced nutritious diet and only that much take calories which you actually require to.

Exercise…there’s no way out: Some or the other form of regular exercise is a must for quick weight loss. If you find it difficult to hit the gym regularly, which is the case with most of the new moms, then try walking, swimming, yoga, jogging….anything that will give you enough physical activity to burn off the calories. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, dance when you feel like, and just be active.

If you are interested only in structured exercise, you may get an exercise video. You can then work-out in the privacy of your home and according to your own time schedule.

Though losing weight after pregnancy is more difficult than losing weight otherwise, it’s not impossible. With regular exercise, proper diet and your great resolve, you will soon start fitting into your good old jeans once again!

Losing weight after pregnancy is not a very difficult job, but it requires great resolve and a strict routine. You definitely must not read or follow any weight loss tips during the pregnancy. When your baby is born, there will be enough time for you to get back into shape. weight loss after pregnancy takes place slowly and pregnancy weight gain can mostly be shed after 2-4 months of delivery. So don’t lose heart.

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Young individuals and old alike, all revolve around society stereotyping what thin should be. In this retrospect, People have an unhealthy perspective in what healthy is. This varies on an individual’s body type, genes, and metabolism make up. The only surefire way that an individual can lighten up naturally is to do it with the old good old fashion way. This means implementing an exercise routine regularly, eating healthy foods, and staying away from foods that contain high calories and high fat content. This also means that a person should lessen the amount of preservatives, chemicals, and toxins that they consume.

Surgeries can assist an individual in quick weight loss, however the risks of these procedures often outweighs the benefits one would derive from them. Unless an individual is morbidly obese they risk complications, and reap benefits for a temporary resolve. It is proven that most surgeries such as gastric bypass, lap band, and lypo surgery only inhibits weight-gain for short periods of time. The individual is often inclined to gain weight in the future and these measures do not teach proper habits to them that lead to successful long-term weight loss and maintenance. What an individual must consider is are they willing to pay the price financially and take the risk of complications and short term success. In this scenario an individual may reap far more benefits that stand the test of time by making the choice of lightening up naturally.

The market is surrounded by manufacturers that produce pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals that are sold and purchased with claims to aid in weight-loss or to promote fast weight-loss. It is sad that the majority of these products are filled with substances that do no such things. In addition, many of these products have not been thoroughly tested to derive whether or not they are safe for human consumption. This poses a great risk for a society that flourishes with people who want an answer to their weight-loss woes. Most find themselves deeper in debt and without results when they purchase the newest trends. The choice to lighten up naturally is a wise one in comparison to the time consumption associated with wasting time and money on products that do not deliver.

There are many good reasons a person should avoid investing their goals of weight loss in product scams, and risky surgeries. However, an individual has to make the decision to cease chasing pipe dreams of being thin and to substantiate their goals with one that is realistic such as lightening up naturally.

When we need to lose weight we tend to search for weight loss meal plans that promise us to lose weight fast. We buy the first book we see and follow the meal plans perfectly. After a few days or weeks we drop the diet plan just as fast as we started it. And most of the time because of the following reasons: We’re not losing so much weight, feel hungry all day, can’t eat what we would like to eat and of course are to busy doing all kinds of other things.

When it comes to following  effective weight loss meal plans, you need to make sure that they meet a few important criteria.

Weight loss meal plans need to be adjustable to your weight loss goals and body type. We are not all the same, therefore it isn’t possible that one diet with exactly the same amount of foods will fit all people. Some of us require more calories then others, it depends on age, gender, length, etc. If you eat to many calories you will not lose weight, if you eat to few you’ll feel hungry, this is not the same for each individual. So you need to be asked what your goal is, how active you are through the day, what kind of activity you do and what your body measurements are and what you want it to be.

It needs to be possible to adjust your meal plan to your goal. Do you want a low fat diet, low carb, high protein? Maybe your goal is to lose a lot of weight, maybe just a few pounds. A good weight loss meal plan will offer you a choice and adjust your meal plan to your goal.

If you want to stay motivated, it must be allowed to put your own food into your meal plan, within the guidelines of your goal of course. When you are allowed to eat your own “favorite” foods at certain times, it’s more likely that you will reach your weight loss goal.

Another important aspect of good weight loss meal plans is that they let you choose from a wide variety of foods. This will also help keeping up your metabolism. The more different types of food you consume, the harder your body helps burning that excessive fat. On top of that it’s also nice to eat something different each day, helps to keep you motivated again!

As time goes by your goal might change, hopefully you lost some weight. This also requires some flexibility in your weight loss meal plan. If you lose weight, your calorie intake should change too. Maybe your activity level has gone up and you need to have some more calories every day. Just make sure your meal plan grows with you through time and is flexible.

Extra motivational are weight loss meal plans that come with a possibility to measure your success. It must be able to measure your results each day, week and month. It’s a great thing to see that you are improving, even if it’s just a little bit each day. And you can also see if it is not working and you have to change something in order to improve your results.