Top 5 Tips for Talking to Your Doctor

1. Organize Your Questions

It is an unfortunate reality that doctors are usually very busy. This doesn't mean they don't care about you, or that they don't want to answer your questions, but it does mean that they respond very well to clear, organized discussions. To get the most of your visit, try to:

• Write down questions you have and bring them with you
• Wait to ask questions until natural breaks in the conversation
• Understand that asking questions is different than providing information - try to keep these two activities separate

2. Know the Plan

Your doctor invests a lot of time, energy, and concern into developing a treatment plan. Likewise, you should understand what that plan is, and be able to provide relevant information. Taking an active part in your healthcare shows your doctor that you care about your health and respect his hard work. As with all personal interactions, people will react with more patience and understanding if they feel valued and respected. Some things you should keep track of are:

• The names and doses of your medications
• The goals for each visit
• Any changes to the treatment plan

3. Ask Direct Questions

Because the volume of information exchanged during a visit to the doctor is so large, it is easy to forget that questions work the best when they are direct and specific. Try to ask exactly what you want to know. For example, if you want to know if your blood pressure numbers have gotten better since your last visit, don't say "How am I doing?" Instead, ask "Have my blood pressure numbers gotten better?" When talking to doctors it is usually very effective to use their words when asking questions. If you're confused by a particular phrase, repeat it back to the doctor and ask him to explain that phrase again.

4. Explain How You Feel

If you feel like your doctor is rushing you, or is being disrespectful of your need for clarification, tell him. Remember, most doctors decided to study medicine becaue they genuinely want to help people. When doctors are directly and respectfully confronted with the fact that they are making you feel rushed, overwhelmed, or confused, they will almost always slow down and try harder to help you understand what they're trying to say. In turn, you should treat your doctor with the same level of courtesy and respect that you expect in return.

5. Tell the Truth

Everyone lies to their doctor at some point. Though the reasons that patients lie are complicated, it is an inescapable fact that your doctor can only do his job if he has the right information. It can sometimes be difficult and embarassing to tell the truth, but your doctor will be happy with your honesty, and will be better able to help you. Truth telling is especially important when it comes to issues dealing with your high blood pressure medicine. You should never conceal if you have missed doses of a prescribed medicine, or if you have taken more than you should.