Get the most out of your next doctor’s visit

Have you ever gone to the doctor’s office, and upon arriving back home remembered there was a symptom or issue that you forgot to discuss? Or perhaps you had a concern about your health, but you didn’t want to bring it up?

While most of us have no trouble making sure people know what we want in other settings, the doctor’s office can sometimes be intimidating. Here are some tips to make your next office visit more productive:

1. Treat it like an interview. Interviews require preparation and a little planning. During an interview, you want to make sure your potential employer has all the information about you to decide whether or not they want to hire you. Make sure your doctor has the information they need by bringing a list of any concerns and symptoms you have.
2. Honesty is the best policy. As uncomfortable as complete candor about some of your symptoms may be, your doctor needs to hear them. Honesty will allow your physician to make critical decisions about your care. Disclose whether or not you are following recommendations for diet and exercise too.
3. Use technology to your advantage. Your smartphone can be used to help during your next visit. Snap a photo of your medicine bottles so that you have a record of the name and dosage. Create an alarm to remember to take medication. Consider tracking any symptoms in a notes app so that you have the information at your fingertips.

Getting the most out of your next doctor’s appointment will be as easy as 1, 2, 3 when you use these simple steps.