- “Of course I floss!“
Flossing prevents gum disease, and research is starting to show that gum disease can lead to cardiovascular problems or even a problem during pregnancy called preeclampsia.
- “I’ve never had an STD.“
Your doctor may think he or she doesn’t need to give you annual pap tests if you say you’ve never had an STD, and missing these tests could mean letting a new disease go without detection. Previous STDs can also lead to pregnancy problems.
- “I’m not a big drinker.“
There can be serious interactions between drugs and alcohol. If your doctor knows you drink, he or she can try to prescribe you drugs that don’t interfere with alcohol. Also, denying your drinking habits can be a symptom of an addiction.
- “I’m monogamous.“
Having several partners increases your risk of STDs. If your doctor knows your habits, he or she can try to catch any infections early before lingering problems occur.
- “I watch what I eat and exercise.“
Diet and exercise can help with blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. It may be “easier” to take a pill for these problems, but the accompanying price and side-effects aren’t worth it.
- “I don’t smoke.“
Smoking causes an increased risk for sinus and upper respiratory infections, emphysema, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer. But it can also cause blood clots and strokes in women who use hormone-based contraceptives. If you light up, even once a month, you smoke.
- “I use sunscreen every day.“
Skin cancer rates have risen significantly since 1980. If you admit to frequently forgetting your sunscreen, your doctor can screen you for problems more frequently, and therefore catch them earlier when they are easier to treat. Your doctor can also be sure not to prescribe you medications that make you photo-sensitive.
- “I’m taking my medication the way you prescribed it.“
Using drugs incorrectly can make you even sicker. For example, if you tell your doctor you’ve finished your antibiotics when you have not, he or she will prescribe you a new antibiotic. This will make the bacteria resistant to the medication, and could lead to a much more serious problem than the one with which you started.
- “I’m not taking any medication.“
Any medication, even Tylenol and ibuprofen, can have an effect on other drugs. Your doctor can prescribe you the proper drugs, or at least the proper amounts, only if he or she knows everything you are taking at a given time.
- “I always use birth control.“
There are so many different kinds of birth control available, there is one out there appropriate for you and your lifestyle. If, for example, you constantly forget to take your pill, you doctor can suggest a better alternative.