When it comes to their own medical care, women – especially women under forty – are shortchanging themselves. A doctor should not just be someone you call to get a prescription or to deliver a baby. A doctor should be an integral part of your life. Your doctor should be someone who knows you as a person, not just a sick person. |
Every women over eighteen who values here health should have an annual physical exam performed by a competent internist or primary-care physician. It will enable you to develop a relationship with your doctor. If your doctor is familiar with your family medical history, your lifestyle, and your overall health, she will be in a better position to detect small problems before they blossom into big ones. And, if you have a good rapport with your doctor, you will be more likely to pick up the phone and let her know if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms. If more women felt comfortable with their doctors, there may be fewer women ignoring important symptoms such as chest pain, and there may be fewer cases of unreported heart attacks among women. Getting to know your doctor is well worth the investment. One day, it might save your life.
Before you arrive for your appointment, your doctor should review your file so that she is familiar with your case. It’s reasonable to expect your doctor to know who you are, what problems she has treated you for in the past, and what medication you are taking. If your doctor makes no attempt to get to know you, perhaps you should make it your business to get to know another doctor.
It is within your right to expect your doctor to return your phone calls as quickly as she can. It is also reasonable to expect your doctor to be there for you during a crisis. It is inexcusable to send a patient to the hospital and not be there for her, unless you are tied up in another emergency.
Every girl should have an annual physical examination by her pediatrician that includes the following:
This page was contributed by Marianne J. Legato, M.D. and Carol Colman, authors of The Female Heart, The Truth about Women and Coronary Artery Disease, Simon & Shuster, 1991. Reprinted with permission.
Facts
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Shortcut to Healthy Hearts
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Annual Physical
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Blood Pressure
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Blood Pressure Log
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Blood Pressure Monitoring
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Taking Medicines Safely
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Medicines Record
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Menopause
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Caregiver Support
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Care Plan
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Child Development Checklist
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Safety Checklist for
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Improve Doctor–Patient Communication
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Path for a Healthy Heart
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Taking Coumadin
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Get Smart About Smoking
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How to Quit Smoking
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Heart Wellness
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