4 Things to Discuss With Your Doctor
Seeing a doctor every year for a wellness checkup is important for people of all ages. However, many patients make the mistake of letting their doctor do all the talking. To get the most out of your appointment, do not be afraid to share details about your health and lifestyle. Here are some things you may want to discuss with your doctor.
1. Your Smoking and Drinking Habits
Many people are reluctant to tell their doctor how often they smoke or drink because they do not want to be judged. However, it is important to remember that your doctor is a professional and will not judge you. He or she is only concerned about your health and wellbeing. For instance, if you tell your doctor that you have been drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages lately, he or she may want to test your liver function.
2. You Are Having Sleeping Problems
Do not brush off sleeping problems as a normal part of life. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, it can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Talk to your doctor about it. He or she may be able to offer helpful advice. For example, your doctor may advise you to avoid caffeine late at night or to do a relaxing activity, like reading, before you hit the sack. Your doctor may even suggest taking sleeping medications.
3. You Are Overly Stressed
It is not uncommon to experience stress from time to time. However, if you have high levels of stress every day, it's no longer normal. Do not be afraid to discuss this at the doctor's office. He or she may talk to you about stress reduction techniques or recommend a mental health therapist.
4. You Are Tired All the Time
Many people think that fatigue is just a normal part of getting older. However, it is not normal at all. If you have low levels of energy every day, you should definitely speak to your doctor about it. Sometimes, fatigue is a sign of an underlying illness, like fibromyalgia, anemia or heart disease.
Your doctor can order several tests to find out the root cause of your fatigue.
Do not hesitate to talk about these subjects with your doctor. If you have not had a wellness checkup in over a year, you should schedule an appointment at the doctor's office as soon as possible.