Older People: Talking with Your Doctor : Part 6

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 6 of 9)

How Can I Be Involved? Making Decisions With Your Doctor

Giving and getting information are two important steps in talking with your doctor. The third big step is making decisions about your care.

Ask about different treatments - You will benefit most from a treatment when you know what is happening and are involved in making decisions. Make sure you understand what your treatment involves and what it will or will not do. Have the doctor give you directions in writing and feel free to ask questions. For example: "What are the pros and cons of having surgery at this stage?" or "Do I have any other choices?"

If your doctor suggests a treatment that makes you uncomfortable, ask if there are other treatments that might work. If cost is a concern, ask the doctor if less expensive choices are available. The doctor can work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.

Here are some things to remember when deciding on a treatment:

Discuss choices. There are different ways to manage many health conditions, especially chronic conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Ask what your options are.

Discuss risks and benefits. Once you know your options, ask about the pros and cons of each one. Find out what side effects might occur, how long the treatment would continue, and how likely it is that the treatment will work for you.

Consider your own values and circumstances. When thinking about the pros and cons of a treatment, don't forget to consider its impact on your overall life. For instance, will one of the side effects interfere with a regular activity that means a lot to you? Is one treatment choice expensive and not covered by your insurance? Doctors need to know about these practical matters and can work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.

Ask about prevention - Doctors and other health professionals may suggest you change your diet, activity level, or other aspects of your life to help you deal with medical conditions. Research has shown that these changes, particularly an increase in exercise, have positive effects on overall health.

Until recently, preventing disease in older people received little attention. But things are changing. We now know that it's never too late to stop smoking, improve your diet, or start exercising. Getting regular checkups and seeing other health professionals such as dentists and eye specialists helps promote good health. Even people who have chronic diseases, like arthritis or diabetes, can prevent further disability and, in some cases, control the progress of the disease.

If a certain disease or health condition runs in your family, ask your doctor if there are steps you can take to help prevent it. If you have a chronic condition, ask how you can manage it and if there are things you can do to prevent it from getting worse. If you want to discuss health and disease prevention with your doctor, say so when you make your next appointment. This lets the doctor plan to spend more time with you.

It is just as important to talk with your doctor about lifestyle changes as it is to talk about treatment. For example: "I know that you've told me to eat more dairy products, but they really disagree with me. Is there something else I could eat instead?" or "Maybe an exercise class would help, but I have no way to get to the senior center. Is there something else you could suggest?"

Just as with treatments, consider all the alternatives, look at pros and cons, and remember to take into account your own point of view. Tell your doctor if you feel his or her suggestions won't work for you and explain why. Keep talking with your doctor to come up with a plan that works.

Talking About Exercise

Exercise is often "just what the doctor ordered!" Exercise can: Help older people feel better and enjoy life more - even those who think they're too old or too out of shape. Improve some diseases and disabilities, such as high blood pressure and arthritis, in older people who already have them. Improve mood and relieve depression. Help prevent or delay certain diseases (like heart disease, diabetes, or some types of cancer) and disabilities as people grow older. Help prevent falls.

Many doctors now recommend that older people try to make exercise a part of everyday life. When you are making your list of things to talk about with your doctor, add exercise. Ask whether exercise would benefit you, whether there are any exercises you should avoid, and whether your doctor can recommend any specific kinds of exercise.

Tips: Evaluating Health Information on the Internet

Many people search the Internet to find information about medical problems and health issues. However, not all health information on the web is of equal quality. How do you fi nd websites that are accurate and reliable? The following questions may be useful to consider when you look at a health-related website.

• Who is responsible for the content? Is it a government agency, national nonprofit organization, or professional association? An individual? A commercial organization?
• If you are reading a particular article, what are the author's credentials? Is the author affi liated with any major medical institutions?
• Who reviews the material? Is there a medical advisory board that reads the medical content before it is made available to the public?
• Are sources cited for the statistical information? For example, it's easy enough to say "4 out of 5 doctors agree..." but where did that statistic come from?
• Is the purpose and goal of the sponsoring organization clearly stated?
• Is there a way to contact the sponsor for more information or to verify information presented?
• Is the site supported by public funds or donations? If it includes advertisements, are they separate from content?
• Because health information gets outdated so quickly, does the website post the source and date for the information?
• If you have to register, is it clear how your personal information will be used? Does the site have a clear privacy policy?
• Is the website trying to sell you something?

Don't forget to talk with your doctor about what you've learned online.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.