Four Things Your Doctor Wishes You Would Do for Your Health

It’s important for you to schedule regular appointments with your doctor. It’s the best way to stay on top of your health, but your appointment isn’t always as enlightening as it should be.

Unfortunately, most doctors are squeezed for time, which means they don’t get to spend as much time talking with you about your health as they would like.

Here are four things your doctor wishes you would do for your health, but he or she probably didn’t have the time to tell you at your last appointment.

Take Your Medication as Prescribed

Doctors and pharmacists will always tell you how to take your medication, but an alarming number of people don’t follow those directions. Not because they’re being defiant, but because they think they don’t have to.

However, it is extremely important to take your medication exactly as directed. That means finding online coupons so you can afford to refill your prescription, continuing to take the medication after you feel better, and even taking your meds as prescribed after you get pregnant until you can speak to your doctor.

Get Real About Food

You know you need to eat healthier food. Your doctor knows you know that you need to eat healthier food. They just wish you knew what healthy food really looks like!

Don’t fall into the latest dieting fad. Your doctor wants you to know that:

  • Fat isn’t bad for you. Up to 35 percent of your diet should come from fats. Just choose the right kind that can be found in fish, nuts, and avocado.
  • Carbs aren’t bad for you either! Just choose complex carbs like vegetables and whole grains and avoid white bread and pasta.
  • Gluten free does not automatically mean it’s healthy. If you don’t have a gluten intolerance, you could actually be robbing your diet of important vitamins and minerals.

Exercise

You know your doctor wants you to exercise, but your doc also wants you to know that exercise doesn’t mean you have to get sweaty at the gym every day.

Only 150 minutes a week of aerobic activity is all it takes. That’s just a 30-minute, brisk walk 5 days a week.

Stop Diagnosing Yourself

You might think your doctor wants you to stop diagnosing yourself because it’s annoying, but it’s actually because it can be detrimental to your health.

Not only are you likely to misdiagnose yourself, but you may accidentally lead the doctor astray. That’s because you could unconsciously end up matching your symptoms to the problem you think you have, overlooking other important symptoms that could help your physician make a more accurate diagnosis.

Something else your doctor wishes you would do for your health? Come to your appointment ready with a few questions! They may not be able or willing to discuss all the things you should do at your appointment, but if you have specific questions, they will happily provide you with answers that will boost your health.

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