For Physicians
Pay Your Bill Online
Get ER Appointment
Request Medical Records
Insurance Info
Download App
Careers/Jobs
Contact Us
Review Us
For Physicians
Request Medical Records

#### Are You Being Honest With Your Doctor?

Are you really honest with your doctor? Everyone wants to put their best foot forward when dealing with other people. You want your boss to think you’re the ideal employee. You want your friends and family to respect you and enjoy your company.

Likewise, when you go to the doctor, you want them to think you’re doing everything you can to maintain and improve your health. However, if you aren’t being totally honest about some of your less-than-savory habits, you could be downplaying some details about your life that could be vital to your health.

The doctor is not there to be judge and jury about your life choices. They are there to help, guide and heal, if necessary. Just what potentially dangerous secrets are you keeping quiet about when you visit the doctor?

Alcohol Consumption

It’s easy to downplay the amount of alcohol you consume but you should not. You should be honest with your doctor. Are you really having only two drinks on Saturday night, or is it one or two drinks every night after work and some binge drinking at a party over the weekend? Alcohol can have a detrimental interaction with many medications. Your health, and possibly your life, could depend on a truthful account of your drinking habits.

Smoking

You know that nothing good comes from smoking, but are you willing to admit to your bad habit to the doctor?

Denying that you smoke, or falsely claiming to have quit smoking, will interfere with your doctor’s effort to identify the cause of a particular ailment or condition. You may be in for a lecture, but you may also be on the road to getting help with medication or counseling. When it comes to smoking, be honest with your doctor and lay it all on the line.

Eating Healthy Diet

Are you eating a healthy diet loaded with plenty of vegetables, whole grains and wholesome proteins?

Or does breakfast mainly consist of pastries, and dinner always be something fried, followed up with a gooey dessert? A poor diet can manifest itself in many ways, from high cholesterol to diabetes. If your doctor knows the true state of your diet, he/she can do a better job of treating you effectively.

Daily Exercise

Many people underestimate just how much exercise they get.

You may have sincere intentions of hitting the gym five days a week, and tell your doctor you are dedicated to this schedule. If the reality is totally different, you are short-changing yourself and interfering with your doctor’s ability to provide optimal care.

Sexual Risks

You may think your sex life is nobody’s business but your own, but your doctor will have a different opinion on that topic.

Sexual activity can be loaded with dangerous health risks, from sexually transmitted diseases to unplanned pregnancies.

Pain or Discomfort

Don’t simply dismiss pain or discomfort as overwork, stress or too little sleep. Let you doctor decide if that headache requires further investigation, or if that sudden change in your weight is the sign of something more sinister. Don’t decide for yourself which symptoms are worth mentioning. That’s why you go to the doctor in the first place.

Your doctor is one of your strongest allies on your health team. They are dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health, but they need your total cooperation and honesty. Don’t be embarrassed to discuss any health topic honestly and in depth. You are both on the same side.

By SignatureCare ER | May 16th, 2017| Categories: Health & Wellness
Share this useful information with your friends!

##### Related Blog Posts

##### Measles Is Back in Texas—And It’s Worse Than You Think

Jul 10th, 2025

##### Emergency Room Physician Sounds Alarm as Flu Infections Continue to Rise in the U.S.

Feb 13th, 2025

##### Board-Certified Emergency Room Physician Details How Texas Families Can Avoid ER Visits this Winter

Jan 25th, 2024

##### Benefits of Exercise for Chronic Pain Management

Sep 26th, 2023

##### Headache and Migraines: Everything You Should Know

Aug 30th, 2023

##### Paris Back-to-School Bash Draws Over 5,000 Attendees

Aug 11th, 2023

##### SignatureCare ER Breakfast of Champions First Responders Drive-Thru Breakfast

Jun 15th, 2023

##### What is Abdominal Pain?

Feb 13th, 2023

##### Houston ER Physician Answers Your Questions About BA.4 and BA.5 Covid-19 Subvariants

Jul 15th, 2022

##### COVID- 19: Houston ER Doctor Cautions Against Letting Your Guard Down

May 27th, 2022

- Texarkana, TX
- Odessa, TX
- College Station/Bryan, TX
- Midland, TX
- Killeen, TX
- Frisco, TX (Coming Soon)
- Plano, TX (Coming Soon)

Emergency Room Locations.
Contact Us.
Review Us.
Insurance Info.
Blog.
Scholarship.
Awards.
Notice of Privacy Practices.
Our Stand Against Racism.
Message to Medicare Patients