![]() If you're generally healthy, your doctor will probably recite the basics: Get more sleep, manage stress, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. At your next appointment, discuss with your doctor if there is anything you can do at home to help with your health. It's not up to your doctor to keep your body in tip-top shape - it's up to you, with help from your doctor. One simple way to improve your health on your own: exercise. Before bringing your prescription to a pharmacy, ask if there's a generic version of the medication that might be less expensive.Īnd if you come to your visit prepared - such as with a copy of your insurance summary of benefits and coverage - you and your doctor can decide together what is the most cost-effective option that fully supports your health needs. Many doctor's offices offer payment plans to help offset the up-front cost. So speak up if you're concerned about the price of your medication, tests or visit in general. Physicians write prescriptions based on health needs, not cost. But you may be surprised to learn that doctors often don't know the financial burden on their patients - the cost of medications and procedures all depends on your health insurance, and it's not your doctor's job to know what your insurance covers. Health care isn't cheap, there's no doubt about that. Ask for a referral to someone who can give you a comprehensive and accurate second opinion. In fact, your primary care physician may tell you upfront that you should see a specialist to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. It's OK to ask about a second opinion if you aren't confident in your doctor's diagnosis. You should also ask about any side effects of the drug and, if you're back for a check-up after taking the medicine for a while, ask if it's working. And if you tell your doctor that you feel intense stress at work and at home, day in and day out, his or her advice is likely to be: "Manage stress." If your doc can't pinpoint a culprit, they may refer you to a sleep specialist. High stress levels are a common cause for disturbed sleep, for example. While your primary care physician may not be able to tell you exactly why you aren't getting any sleep, they can help you pinpoint areas of your life that could be attributing to your lack of sleep. They may ask you about your diet, exercise habits, stress levels, relationships and more. When you ask this question, your doc is likely to fire back questions of their own. And if you do need any, and didn't previously have a vaccination record, now is a good time to start one. If you suspect you might be due for a vaccine, be sure to ask at your next doctor visit. There's a schedule of recommended vaccinations for adults just like there is for children - take a look at the adult vaccination list from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surprise! Vaccines aren't just for kids: adults need them, too.
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