For more effective treatment of your COPD,
Initiate An Open Conversation with Your Doctor
According to a study by the Nation- aulteIsnsotfit Health, patients and their doctors need to have open conversations to more effectively treat COPD. Interestingly, current smokers are 82 percent more likely to talk with their doctors about their symptoms than former smokers.
The American Lung Association offers a COPD Management Tool that will help you talk to your physician about your current state of health. You may access this on the Internet by visiting www.lungusa.org and putting COPD Management Tool in the top left search box.
Dr. Oz Recommends These Tips:
- Make a list of your If you get interrupted – which is a likely – having a list of the topics you want to discuss will remind you to return to your most important points.
- Don’t spare the More than 80 percent of health problems can be diagnosed by the information that you provide to your doctor – so be specific. If you have belly pain, for example, be prepared to pinpoint whether it is pierc- ing or throbbing, how severe it is on a scale of 1 to 10, when it occurs and how often, and what makes it better or worse.
Ask the tough If your doctor suggests a new medication, why is it better than the drug you are currently taking? If she advises that you get a diagnostic procedure, are there any less invasive alternatives?
Ask the tough If your doctor suggests a new medication, why is it better than the drug you are currently taking? If she advises that you get a diagnostic procedure, are there any less invasive alternatives?- Don’t tweak the truth. Some of the most common white lies we hear: (false- ly) swearing that you don’t smoke or drink, that you are eating a healthy diet, and that you are following doctor’s Some researchers estimate that as many as half of all patients tell their doctor they are taking their medication as prescribed, when in fact they are not.
- Insist on understanding. Less than 2 percent of doctors ask their patients whether they understand what is being Don’t be afraid to interrupt and say, “I’m confused – can you explain that in layman’s terms?” If it helps to take notes or tape-record the conversation, do so. One study showed that after the visit was over, on average, older patients forgot more than 75 percent of what their doctor had said.