SPEAKING UP AT THE DOCTOR

Taking control of your health involves having the courage to engage in honest, and sometimes difficult, conversations with your doctor. Here we take a look at how to move beyond the traditional doctor relationship and become empowered to advocate for yourself.

- Emma Nuttall

Are you proactive when it comes to your health? Do you have regular check-ups and monitor changes in how you feel? Are you comfortable discussing topics like sexual health and emotional well-being with your doctor? Or do you find yourself skipping appointments because you're too busy or too uncomfortable to bring up certain issues? Your relationship with your primary doctor is an important and sometimes overlooked element of your healthcare journey. However, people often hold back due to reluctance, embarrassment or self-neglect. Taking a holistic approach to your health, however, involves making time for yourself, building a good rapport with your doctor and being open to meaningful discussions about your health-related concerns.

Empowering yourself as a patient

Taking a holistic approach to your health means being an active participant in your health care decisions. If something is bothering you, or interfering with your daily life, it's important to prioritise yourself and make an appointment with your doctor. It can also be helpful to come prepared. Particularly when it involves complicated health issues. This gives you the confidence to ask questions so you can gain a good understanding of your condition. Then you are part of the decision-making process moving forward.

How much research is too much?

With the internet offering an overwhelming amount of medical information, finding the balance between being informed and over-researched can be challenging. Online medical content can lead to unnecessary anxiety and google can lead you down rabbit holes of misinformation. Taking health advice from unverified sources can result in misguided diagnoses and decisions, or worse, the adoption of dangerous trends.