BOCA RATON, Fla. (February 24, 2009)--Does your primary care physician know:
Your sexual habits? Your sleep habits? Recreational habits? Financial situation?
If you answered no to any of these questions, or wondered why he or she should know
about your private affairs, you could be playing with fire and restricting your
physician’s ability to make a diagnosis.
Dr. Bernard Kaminetsky, the Medical Director of MDVIP, Inc., a national network
of affiliated primary care physicians, says: “Your primary care doctor must know
everything about you, even if the discussion feels a little bit uncomfortable. Remember,
there are very strict privacy laws between patient and doctor, so the information
is not going to be shared. But what you omit may be the key to a diagnosis.”
The ten things you must tell your primary care physician include:
1. OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDS YOU ARE TAKING —You must tell your doctor
if you are taking Tylenol, Benadryl or any other over-the-counter medication. The
combination of any of these along with a prescription drug can produce serious side
effects or even an overdose. Also, if you have seen a specialist for any reason
and he is prescribing medications, you need to tell your primary care doctor about
ALL the medications you are taking.
2. ALL OF YOUR AILMENTS, NOT JUST THE ONES FOR WHICH YOU ARE VISITING THE DOCTOR
—You’re not feeling well and you go to the doctor to take care of a self-diagnosed
cold. Don’t leave your physician in the dark about other things that are bothering
you. For example, it may not be a cold; maybe it’s a sinus infection, or an allergy,
or even pneumonia. Make a list of your complaints in advance, and tell him or her
everything; it will help your doctor evaluate your condition properly.
3. SLEEP HABITS —If you are having trouble sleeping, don’t just
shrug it off. Tell your doctor. There could be any number of reasons you are not
sleeping well, including ingesting too much caffeine, the onset of menopause in
women, stress in your job, or other factors. People need adequate sleep to function
properly.
4. DEPRESSED? —Don’t try to be the doctor; be the patient and tell
the doctor if you are feeling blue. Depression is a serious disease and a lot of
patients hesitate to tell their physician because they think it is embarrassing,
or the problem will go away by itself. Depression is too dangerous to keep a secret.
Let the doctor make the right decision for you.
5. YOUR SEXUAL HABITS —Have you and your spouse stopped having
sexual relations? Are you using the right protection to avoid serious illness? Is
your partner having difficulty with getting or keeping an erection? Has your wife
lost interest in sex? It may be an uncomfortable topic, but your primary care physician
needs to know what you are “up to” in order to help you prevent disease or treat
one. Sex education, as well as prescription drugs, can make your sex life vital
and safe again.
6. WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE OFFICE? —If you are not happy at your
job or if there is a problem at work, it might be a good idea to tell the doctor
about it. As a matter of fact, stress in any area of your life can cause symptoms
that mimic many diseases. Tell your physician what pressures you may be under.
7. HOW HAPPY ARE YOU WITH YOUR SPOUSE, LOVER, or CHILDREN? —Is
there something going on in your personal life that is driving you crazy? Is there
a situation with your child that doesn’t seem right? Are you really anxious about
your spouse’s lack of interest? Tell the doctor. The more he knows, the healthier
you can be.
8. WHAT IS YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION? —Financial pressures can contribute
to some of your symptoms or may lead to arguments with your significant other. It
is important to tell the doctor everything about you.
9. WHY AM I ALWAYS TIRED? —This is a very important topic. It could
be stress, lack of sleep, too many snacks, or a serious illness. Fatigue is a symptom,
and the doctor may need more information to get to the heart of the matter.
10. DO YOU HAVE A HOBBY? —What are you doing in your free time
that may be affecting your health? Could that knee pain be too much golf? Could
that gym exercise be hurting your feet? Can reading in bed be killing your back?
All of these activities could lead to a problem. Tell the doctor your habits.
“MDVIP primary care physicians,” Dr. Kaminetsky says, “provide each and every patient
with an executive-style annual physical and a wellness plan. Our doctors also spend
more time with a patient, thoroughly asking questions and looking for the best avenue
to take for their patient’s individual care.” Dr. Kaminetsky also advises, “Patients
must take responsibility for their health. That means making a list of questions
for the doctor, telling the doctor all that ails them, and feeling comfortable enough
to talk freely. I think it is equally important for the doctor to ask patients lots
of questions and give them a thorough examination, as well as make them feel comfortable
about asking questions in return and discussing what is bothering them. There needs
to be a real bond, a relationship between patient and doctor.”
Dr. Kaminetsky, who has more than 20 years of experience as a primary care physician,
explains that you need to be aware of when and where you get a symptom. Here are
two examples of why it is so important to discuss everything with your physician:
A patient, knowing Dr. Kaminetsky’s insistence on discussing all symptoms, told
him that he was experiencing a persistent cough. But it was unusual in that he only
had the cough when he was on the treadmill. While discussing it with the patient
and delving into the nature of the cough, Dr. Kaminetsky diagnosed it as an atypical
presentation of heart disease — what is called an anginal equivalent. The patient
was experiencing the symptoms of coronary artery disease and a potential imminent
heart attack. Another patient of Dr. Kaminetsky told him he was experiencing subtle and occasional
difficulty in swallowing. The patient thought it was so minor and inconsequential
that he didn’t want to waste the doctor’s time mentioning it. But knowing that the
doctor expected the patient to tell him everything that was going on, he told him
about his symptoms. Dr. Kaminetsky diagnosed it as an early but curable esophageal
cancer.
In conclusion, Dr. Kaminetsky sums up: “Your doctor is a detective. He or she gathers
all the information there is to know about you and comes up with a diagnosis. Only
then, when the diagnosis is certain, can an effective treatment plan be put into
place.”
About Bernard Kaminetsky, MD, FACP
Dr. Bernard Kaminetsky is Medical Director of MDVIP, Inc. He has been a primary
care physician in private practice for over 23 years providing comprehensive care
to his patients and utilizing the newest information technologies to promote wellness.
He earned his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he
was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical student honor society, and
completed his residency at Bellevue-New York University. He is Board Certified in
Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He was also Assistant Professor of Medicine at
New York University School of Medicine. He is a frequent media guest.
About MDVIP, Inc.
MDVIP, Inc. is a privately-held firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Boca Raton,
Florida. It is a national network of primary care physicians who practice proactive,
preventive, and personalized healthcare. They do more than just detect and treat
disease. With prevention as the cornerstone of its program, MDVIP has proven that
its carefully chosen affiliated physicians provide exceptional care and achieve
exceptional outcomes. These outcomes include lower hospitalization rates which yield
significant cost savings to patients, employers and the healthcare system. For more
information, go to www.MDVIP.com. Dr. Kaminetsky is available for interviews as
well as local MDVIP primary care physicians.
Contacts
MDVIP, Inc.
Nancy Udell, 561-310-5455
nudell@mdvip.com
or
Maryann Palumbo, 718-680-6483
mpmarkcon@aol.com
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