YOUR doctor is a key player in your health life. He or she has the unique expertise to perform critical assessments, diagnose problems and provide medicine and advice as needed to keep you well. Your doctor is also very busy. Surveys show that the average family doctor sees three to five patients an hour, spending about 10 minutes with each one. That’s not to say that your doctor isn’t any good or doing his or her best. It’s just that, no matter how competent your doctor is, there are always going to be other patients waiting for the next 10-minute appointment.
This is why you can’t expect your doctor to be completely accountable for your care. That’s not a GP’s job. A GP (General Practitioner) must do the same as any other qualified expert, be it a car mechanic, accountant or lawyer–to occasionally assess your condition, provide remedies when the situation calls for them and detect trouble before it becomes serious. The rest of the time–in fact, most of the time it’s your job to take responsibility for your health. So while a doctor should always be your primary health advisor, they should not be the sole voice in your care. We all have a duty to ourselves to take responsibility for our own well-being and to make the final decisions about our health.
A healthy doctor-patient relationship is key to getting the most out of medical care. It’s easy to blame rushed, brusque doctors if the relationship goes sour, but in fact, we are just as often in the wrong. Our biggest flaw is not telling the truth, for example, our consumption of cigarettes and alcohol. Don’t expect your doctor to help if he or she doesn’t know how much you drink or smoke, or whether you rely too heavily on prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Discuss any pills you take every day including vitamins, minerals, herbs and other supplements. Be honest about diet and exercise habits. If you have any worrying symptoms or notice any unusual health developments, be open, even if it scares you to talk about them.
Write yourself some notes so you don’t forget what you wanted to ask about as soon as you get through the door.
Work as a team
You and your doctor are a team working together in your heart’s best interest. If you currently have high blood pressure, diabetes or other heart disease risks, you must make sure you keep all regular appointments with your doctor. Whatever your current condition, even if you’re perfectly healthy right now, it’s a good idea to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked if you are over 40 years old and these haven’t been tested before.
The following is a list of tests that your doctor may perform. Some may be offered every three years or so, others annually, or as advised by your doctor. Older people and those with known risk factors are tested more often.
Medical history/physical examination
When you register as a new patient, you usually fill out a form, ticking every condition that you and your immediate family have ever had. Your doctor uses this information to learn about your family history of heart disease and general risk. If you are given a physical examination, the doctor may listen to your heart, check your pulse and test your blood pressure.
Blood glucose
Often known as ‘testing your sugar,’ this blood test helps to check for diabetes (a major heart disease risk). Many doctors use small machines called blood glucose meters that can give you a result on the spot by taking a finger prick of blood. Alternatively, you may be offered a simple urine test.
Blood pressure
Since blood pressure is a strong indicator of the health of your circulatory system, it is advisable to have it checked every two years after the age of 40, or more often if your doctor thinks it necessary. Regular blood pressure checks can often be carried out by a practice nurse.
Cholesterol
This blood test can be carried out by a practice nurse or a doctor. It measures the levels of good and dangerous lipids (fats) in your bloodstream. Generally, a check-up every two years after the age of 40 is sufficient, but if you’re a man over 45 or a woman over 55 or you have two or more risk factors for heart disease, it’s a good idea to have your cholesterol checked every year.
ECG
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a painless test in which you’re wired to a machine that measures your heart’s electrical activity. The device draws a tracing of the electrical changes occurring in the heart with each beat. Your doctor will only suggest this test if he or she thinks you have risk factors for heart disease.
Stress ECG
This is an ECG performed while you exercise on a treadmill. It is only recommended if your doctor suspects or wishes to eliminate the possibility of heart disease that might be exposed by an exercise test. It can also be used to determine how much exercise is safe for you, particularly during cardiac rehabilitation or after a heart attack.
