Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2018

concerns and understand your doctor’s responses—all while the clock is ticking. That’s where these four tips come in. To get the most out of every visit: Show up prepared. Do you have a new symptom? Have you noticed a possible side effect from a medicine? Do you need help kicking cigarettes? Write down your questions and concerns. And bring the list with you so you remember what to discuss. Be candid. You may feel uncomfortable talking about sexual problems, bladder control or other sensitive issues. But it’s important to talk openly with your doctor about whatever affects your health. He or she is there to help—and has probably DOCTOR VISIT One of the best ways to stay healthy is surprisingly low-tech: knowing how to talk to your doctor. You need to share information, communicate From pain relievers to cold remedies, you can easily buy over-the-counter (OTC) medicines at many stores—and without a prescription from a doctor. But that doesn’t mean these medications are free of health risks. Like prescription drugs, OTC products can cause side effects or bad reactions— for instance, if you take them in the wrong way or mix them with certain other medicines. That’s why you need to be careful when it comes to OTC medicines too. Here are five safety tips: A conversation worth having Need a primary care provider? Call the CMH Information Center at 417-328-6010 or 888-328-6010 . How to talk to your doctor dealt with your problem many times before. Ask away. If you don’t understand something, ask questions until you do. And after your visit, if you’re uncertain about anything, call or email your doctor. Don’t wait until your next appointment to understand a diagnosis or treatment. Get another perspective. Someone else may think of questions or raise concerns that don’t occur to you. So you might ask a family member or close friend to come with you to visits, especially if a problem is serious. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institutes of Health OTC medicines: 5 key tips for taking them safely 1 Read the label. This is a crucial first step. For instance, find out if the medicine will treat your symptoms, who should not take it and how to use it. 2 Take the medicine exactly as directed. Check with a pharmacist or your doctor if you have questions about how to use an OTC drug. 3 Keep your doctor informed. Your doctor needs to know about every product you take, including OTC drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. You can share your list of medicines and supplements at your next doctor visit. But if you also take a prescription medicine, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying an OTC medicine. Make sure it will not interfere with your prescription medicine or cause a side effect. 4 Be careful when taking more than one drug. Some OTC drugs (like cold medicines and pain relievers) may contain the same active ingredients. So if you take more than one medicine for different problems, you could end up taking too much of an active ingredient. Solution: Read the ingredients list, and compare the active ingredients in each medicine. 5 Don’t use a spoon to take the medicine. Use the cup or other dosing device that came with the medicine. Sources: National Council on Patient Information and Education; U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10 VITALITY Winter 2018