Consulting a doctor online? Remember to follow these steps

Consulting a doctor online?

Owing to the COVID crisis, visiting doctors, hospitals or scheduling a surgery has gotten a little worrisome. To reduce the need for people to physically visit hospitals, many doctors and medical facilities are making use of telephonic consultations and virtual visitations to get in touch with their patients.
 
Things to remember with a virtual doctor consultation

However, since we are all used to physically going to the doctor's clinics and let them examine us, online consultations can be a little tricky. Doctors also feel that confused patients are thronging in emergency rooms and clinics because they are not sure about tele-consultations.

To clear your doubts, we tell you the things one needs to keep handy before a doctor's visit:
 
Keep necessary documents and old prescriptions handy

Just as you would in a normal pre-COVID visit, remember to keep all documents, old medical history and test report handy. Respect the doctor's time and make use of the appointment. Knowing about any chronic problems, any prior health problems will help the doctor prescribe medications properly.
 
Talk about all your doubts in the session.

Right now, we don't really know when will it be really safe to go to social events or visit a healthcare facility. Treat your virtual appointment as a regular visit and clarify all your doubts- the dosage, the condition, symptoms and everything you need to know about the same.
 
Ask for a prescription

A prescription or a written doctor's notes will further confirm your doubts. Do not self-prescribe and if a doctor orders you to undergo testing, abide by them. Prescribed medicines also work better in getting the necessary treatment before consulting the doctor the next time.
 
Be prepared for a virtual physical checkup

Remember, the doctor knows better about your possible ailment. Even if you are sitting miles away, the doctor, with his or her expertise will be able to find out any spots, lumps or painful triggers. For that, you need to follow proper instructions and do as the doctor says. Tell them about how the pain started, the intensity for better assessment.
 
Maintain discipline

While virtual consultations can help in times like this, remember that a health emergency is nonetheless an emergency. Do not delay any urgent treatment. Call your doctor or healthcare professional before rushing to emergency care. Follow guidelines, practice precautions before going to the hospital.

When to rush?

While virtual consultations can help in times like this, remember that a health emergency is nonetheless an emergency. Do not delay any urgent treatment. Call your doctor or healthcare professional before rushing to emergency care. Follow guidelines, practice precautions before going to the hospital.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

12 Things You Should Never Lie To Your Doctor About

When it comes to a meeting with a doctor, a few white lies may actually snowball into a real tragedy. And while you may not see any harm in concealing a bad habit, forgetting to mention a multivitamin you take, misrepresenting the amount of exercise you do, or simply not showing up at the doctor’s office for a while, all of these things may really harm your health and pose a serious health risk. Learn which 12 common lies you should never say to your doctor by reading through the list below.

1. Make sure to state all the medications and supplements you’re taking, even over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements

Anything that you ingest or inject into your body may interfere with its functioning or another medication you are prescribed, so not mentioning them to your health provider puts you at risk of side effects and drug interferences, which can potentially endanger your physical and mental health.

These medications include:

• Prescription medications (e.g. blood-thinners, antidepressants, antibiotics, and heart medications).
• Over-the-counter medications (such as aspirin).
• Herbal remedies (botanical remedies and herbal supplements).
• Vitamins and supplements (complex vitamins, amino acids, minerals, protein supplements, weight loss supplements).

The symptoms of a problematic drug interaction vary and can potentially be life-threatening: extreme drops in blood pressure, an irregular or fast heart beat, liver and kidney damage, nausea, upset stomach, and headache. The list of drugs and symptoms goes on, and only a licensed professional can confirm whether the combination of drugs you’re taking is safe.

2. Mention all past surgeries and medical procedures, even minor ones, including pregnancies and labor

Being honest with your doctor about every minor surgery or cosmetic procedure that happened years ago might not seem important to you, but this information may be a crucial clue to your doctor that can help diagnose and treat your condition. Be explicit about any surgeries and medical procedures you’ve been through, including:

• Cosmetic and plastic surgery.
• Labor complications or abortions. 
• The removal or skin bumps or lumps.
• Trauma, etc.

This is important because some surgeries increase your likelihood of developing certain diseases and symptoms, e.g. a removed gallbladder may make you experience bloating and abdominal pain after eating fatty or spicy foods.

In addition, your previous surgeries may give your doctor some additional insight to what’s going on or point to a bigger issue, like a cosmetic filler may get inflamed or cause severe and even chronic allergic reactions, which may not be diagnosed unless you disclose that you had this procedure.

Finally, anesthesia-related issues, such as the possibility of complications, are always a consideration before an upcoming surgery, and a history of previous surgeries may help your doctor better gauge the dose and kind of anesthetic to be used.

3. Don’t lie about your age and your parents’ medical history

Disclosing the patient’s age accurately is extremely important, as many crucial preventative medical procedures are age-dependent. This may help you prevent serious diseases, such as cancer, for one. Another preventative measure that you might be missing out on are immunizations, the majority of which are age-dependent, especially for kids.

Speaking of children, it is of utmost importance to be accurate about the age of small kids, as the medications they can take safely and effectively lean on the age of the child. It is also important for everyone to notify their doctor about any conditions that run in their family, such as cancer, diabetes, genetic conditions, etc., as your doctor will assign additional tests and screenings for you to prevent or manage the condition you are likely to have inherited from your family.

4. Never misrepresent how much you exercise, as well as the quality of your diet

It is understandable that we want to look good in our doctor’s eyes and often state that our activity levels are higher than they actually are, but a lack of exercise, as well as an unhealthy diet,  can set you at risk of diabetes and heart disease, and your doctor has to know how much you actually exercise to be able to access your long-term health.

For one, they can actually help you choose the diet and exercise regime that is best-suited for your lifestyle. But a lack of exercise isn’t the only danger, as your doctor may direct you to abstain from exercise or certain foods for different reasons, and if they don’t know that you work out and eat too much or too little of something, you’re setting yourself to more complications.

5. Always state the truth about how much time you spend outdoors, especially without sun protection during the day

Unprotected sun exposure increases your likelihood of developing skin cancer, even during short trips from the car to the shopping mall, to work, or home. Even if you don’t get sunburned regularly, but don’t wear and reapply sunscreen, or used to tan without sunscreen on in the past, you’re at a higher risk of this condition, as are the people who visit tanning beds.

If any of the above-mentioned conditions apply to you, share this information with your doctor, as you will require more thorough and regular skin examinations.

6. Don’t lie about your oral health

We all know how we’re supposed to brush and floss twice a day, and we’re often very eager to share that knowledge with the dentist, even when we don’t really follow this recommendation ourselves.

But the truth of the matter is that your oral health is inevitably connected to your overall health, and poor oral hygiene has been linked to a variety of health issues: frequent coughs, cardiac disease, problems conceiving (in women), and several others. Be explicit about your oral hygiene habits and improve them if your doctor claims it may be causing your health issue. 

7. Honestly state your own medical history, including the last time you’ve seen a doctor

Let’s face it, for most of us, going to the doctor is a dreaded chore, especially if you know that you have a particularly uncomfortable procedure to go through, and a few months delay can swiftly snowball into years for some people. Whatever is the case for you, be straightforward with your healthcare provider about the last time you paid them a visit, as during this time, you might have missed a few preventative procedures, immunizations, and routine checks.

In simple words, your doctor will make a more thorough examination when they know that you haven’t been to a doctor for a while. The same rule works for your health history: e.g. a previous history of many allergies, for example, increases your likelihood of having asthma, so it warrants a more in-depth investigation of the lungs.

On top of that, your medical history may influence the kind of medical treatment you can or cannot receive for a non-related condition, so always make sure to notify the doctor of any other conditions you have or used to suffer from, including allergies and chronic illnesses.

8. Be honest about uncomfortable matters, such as bowel movements, menstrual cycle, mental health, etc.

While it may be a very uncomfortable topic of discussion to you personally, things like bowel movements, reproductive and mental health are what most doctors deal with on an everyday basis. Furthermore, factors like erectile dysfunction or anxiety may be an important diagnostic criterion of seemingly-unrelated conditions, and letting your doctor know about these symptoms will help you feel better in the long run.

Apart from that, symptoms like constipation or diarrhea may be pointing to problems with your medication. Finally, some medications may be dangerous for you, e.g. certain heart medications may worsen one’s depression symptoms, so it is key to tell your doctor about your condition for them to choose a different medication for you.

9. Tell your doctor if you haven’t followed the directions before a medical procedure

Telling an anesthesiologist that you have fasted before a surgery when you didn’t can cause severe complications, as during sedation, the contents of the stomach may spill over into the respiratory tract, making you choke on your food or develop pneumonia.

It is important to reschedule your surgery, in that case, as going under the knife will endanger you. But a fast not kept before surgery isn’t the only issue, as not following the doctor’s directions may also mess with your blood test or imaging results, so it’s best to be explicit if you haven’t really followed the instructions as you were supposed to.

10. If you haven’t understood something your doctor told you, ask a follow-up question

It is natural to ask follow-up questions, but many patients are too modest and don’t want to impose their concerns to their doctors.

In reality, however, it is crucial that you understand exactly what to do after leaving the doctor’s office, be it making appointments to other specialists, how often to take the newly-prescribed medication or how to prepare for an upcoming screening or procedure. Don’t be afraid to raise any questions and concerns, even if it takes some extra time at the doctor’s office. 

11. Let your doctor know if you forgot to take the prescribed medication

It is crucial for your doctor to know if you made any alterations to your medication schedule, as taking too much or too little of the medication, or skipping as little as a day can really affect your health. And it doesn’t matter if you stopped your antibiotics a few days early, skipped contraception or forgot to take your heart medication, you should always keep your doctor informed about this.

The same goes for misrepresenting the amount of painkiller you take daily, even if it’s an over-the-counter one. If you have to take more of the medication your doctor prescribed or supplement it with an over-the-counter one, it can damage your liver and build up the number of toxins in your body, but it isn’t all.

If you’re taking a prescription painkiller, it is crucial to stick to the doses you were prescribed, as several painkillers (e.g. Percocet, Vicodin, Norco, Ultracet) are combination pills and they include strong opioid medications in addition to acetaminophen, which are addictive and damaging to your health.

12. Be explicit If you smoke, drink alcohol or take any recreational drugs

This last point is actually a crucial one, as it can be life-threatening. Alcohol consumption and drug use can mess with the rest of your medications, making them less effective or causing side effects. Marijuana use, for example, can render some antidepressants, heart medications and blood thinners ineffective.

A severe alcohol habit is no less harmful, however, as alcohol withdrawal symptoms can kill an in-patient, especially if the patient didn’t disclose their habit and the doctors don’t suspect they’re supposed to treat withdrawal symptoms and not something unknown.

Smoking tobacco, on the other hand, increases one’s likelihood of developing a variety of lung diseases, erectile dysfunction, heart disease, and stroke. Finally, all of these habits may interfere with your vital signs and health tests, which will prevent you from getting the treatments and health screenings that you really need.

 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

                                                                                                                                                     FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/  

         

                   FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com
 

 

a toolkit to manage menopause

To fill the void of clear guidelines on menopause diagnosis and management and equip doctors with the fundamentals to care for any woman, researchers have developed a toolkit that has the potential to help manage menopausal conditions for women globally.

The Practitioner Toolkit for Managing the Menopause includes a diagnostic tool, as well as a compendium of approved hormone therapies.

Led by professor Susan Davis at Monash University in Australia, the research team combined existing research on menopause, diagnostic algorithms and extensive clinical experience to develop the diagnostic tool.

It also works through a patient's medical history and risk factors to arrive at the best treatment solution.

The free resource includes a flow chart of standardised questions for doctors to ask, and assess women who are potentially experiencing menopause. The kit also flags safety concerns, provides a list of all hormone therapies approved by regulators in different countries and lists non-hormonal therapies that have evidence to support their use.

The toolkit would also help inform general practitioners and patients on the benefits and risks of menopausal treatment.

"Hormone therapy is commonly prescribed to women, but its success varies according to symptom type and severity, personal circumstances and medical background," Davis said.

"This toolkit has the potential to change that because it is designed to work just as well for a 41 year old woman in Madras (Chennai) as it will for the 48 year old in Manhattan," Davis added.

Menopause marks the end of the monthly cycle of menstruation and reproductive years in a woman's life.

Due to hormonal changes, menopausal symptoms, which include hot flushes, anxiety and depression and joint pain, vary widely from none at all to debilitating, making a straightforward diagnosis difficult, Davis said. 

 

 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS

HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Don't change your doctor if you want better health

Do not dump your family physician at the slighted pretext as a 'deep' relationship with the doctor can help improve your health, a study said. 

Researchers from University of Bristol in Britain have found that patients tend to open up and share their health concerns more with a doctor they have known for long. 

"This could be because patients feel more comfortable raising additional issues with a doctor they feel they know well, or because more issues can be addressed within the time available as the doctor knows the patient and their medical history," said Matthew Ridd from Bristol University's school of social and community medicine. 

"This research study is the first of its kind to show how seeing the same doctor can positively affect consultations," Ridd said. 

The researchers collected data from 22 practices in Bristol and recorded consultations between 190 patients and 30 general physicians. 

They looked at whether consultation length and the number of problems and issues raised were affected by patient-doctor continuity. 

Analysis showed that almost a third of patients had a "deep" relationship with their doctor, which, in turn, encouraged them to raise 0.5 more problems (a topic requiring a doctor to make a decision or diagnosis) and 0.9 more issues (the number of topics raised within each problem, such as symptoms) during each consultation. 

This may mean many more problems and issues are addressed over the course of several visits. 

"Participants mostly reported a strong relationship with their doctor, built up over time. There was evidence that patients raised more problems and issues with doctors that they felt they had a deep relationship with," Ridd said.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com