DO NOT TELL YOUR DOCTOR THESE LIES

(1) I ONLY DRINK ON WEEKENDS Many people underreport or underestimate the amount of alcohol they drink. Having more than one drink a day, even wine, can increase your risk for ulcers, pancreatitis, breast cancer, and heart disease. Three drinks at a time is even riskier. Cheryl Charles, M.D., an internist at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA. says "We're trained to double the amount patients tell us. And we triple it if they're vague." (2) I'VE BEEN TAKING MY MEDICINE Patients might not stick with a prescription for many reasons. One reason is they feel fine. Feeling better does not mean anything. For example, hypertension is called the silent killer. It has no systems. Another reason for stopping medication is, the side effects, cost, or stigma. Whatever the reason explain to the doctor, so the problem can be resolved. The doctor may double the dosage or add another medicine if you say you are taking something when you are not. This could be avoiding by simply taking the original medicine that was prescribed. (3) I ONLY TAKE MY MEDICINE Some patients do not list everything they take. Some do not think of pills like birth control, Advil, or melatonin as medicine. A doctor and dentist need to know if something else is taken more than once a week. Hormonal birth control can have side effects, such as, swollen gums, stroke, and blood clots. Headaches may be made worse by anti-inflammatiories. Herbal supplements can interact with some medications. The may make the medication less effective or make you queasy. (4) I AM SURE IT'S ONLY STRESS It's normal to feel overwhelmed at times, but when it starts taking a physical toll, that's a problem. Anxiety can show itself as a stomachache, headache, or itchy skin. If the patient does not tell about all the problems that are occurring, only the symptoms get treated not the underlying cause. The underlying cause may be a mood disorder or for women a hormonal issue. Even if the doctor doesn't ask, speak up. A nurse practitioner can give you treatment options if unable to see the doctor right away. The sooner the help, the better.