Tweet
- Photo: The Wolf / Flickr
We’d all like to be able to tell the doctor that we’re eating all the right things, we’re not smoking, and we’re exercising regularly. Often, though, this isn’t true. This is where a few white lies might slip into your conversation with your GP, and these fibs could prove fatal in the long run. Your doctor needs to know the truth about your lifestyle so that she can make the right decisions when it comes to your health. Here’s why.
Drinking
Many of us go weeks without touching alcohol because we’re too busy to go out, or just don’t feel like a tipple. But most of us spend just as many weeks overindulging. The government recommends a woman should drink no more than three units of alcohol a day, and a man no more than four. One unit could be half a pint of lager, a single shot of spirits, or a small glass of wine. So you can see how easy it is to go over that limit when that happy hour becomes a few happy hours.
Even if the only medication you’re taking is an over the counter painkiller, drinking three or more alcoholic beverages alongside ibuprofen can lead to liver damage and stomach bleeding. It’s vital that you tell your doctor the truth about your drinking to avoid being prescribed medication that, alongside alcohol, could pose a serious risk to your health.
Smoking
- Photo: Stock.Xchng
Many people are in denial about their smoking habit. If you never buy your own pack of fags, or only smoke down the pub, in your doctor’s eyes, you are still a smoker. Women who don’t tell their doctors the truth about their smoking are in particular danger, as any hormone-based contraceptive, including birth control pills, patches and injections, combined with the nicotine in cigarettes, can lead to an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. And everyone who smokes is at risk of lung cancer, emphysema and respiratory infections. Confessing your smoking habit will help your doctor make informed decisions about your health, which could end up extending your lifespan.
Sunscreen
Applying foundation with a low SPF every morning does not count as wearing sunscreen regularly. You should be wearing a sunscreen that offers good UVA and UVB protection, with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapplying it frequently, every day – even when it’s cloudy out. Some medications make your skin more sensitive to UV light, and your doctor needs to know the truth about your use of sunscreen to avoid prescribing anything that could damage your skin in the long run.
Your doctor isn’t there to judge you. She’s there to help you stay as healthy as possible, and fessing up to bad habits will help her do just that.
Leave a Response