Fibbed to Your Physician? You are Not Alone and Your Doctor Knows

Have you ever fudged or fibbed when your physician asked you a question about your health habits? If you answered, "Maybe, well... yes" you are not alone and your physician knows.

According to a study performed by WebMD they found that 

• 38% of patients liked about following their doctor's orders
• 32% lied about how much they exercise
• 22% lied about smoking
• 12% lied about recreational drug use
• 16% lied about their intake of alcohol

Honesty with your physician is the cornerstone to quality and safe healthcare. Inaccurate information can lead your physician to misinterpret symptoms, overlooked warning signs, wrong diagnosis, wrong medications or incorrect treatment. 

Often patients are reluctant to share information that is painful or embarrassing. It is human to want to present your best self in the best possible light and most of us fear being judged. 

Dr. Paez, M.D. shares, "When I ask a patient about their tobacco, drug or alcohol use it certainly is not to judge them. My only goal is to be sure I have a complete and accurate picture of their health. For example, if I ask about alcohol use it is because 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits can interfere with a potential treatment plan, it could increase the side effects of medications."

Dr. Saranita, D.O. adds, "We know from previous studies that patients have avoided sharing with their physician that they smoke to avoid getting a lecture. Unfortunately, this important concealment can have significant impacts if a patient is undergoing anesthesia or has chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease."

Dr. Paez shares, "As physicians we abide by the Hippocratic Oath- I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Your secrets are safe with us, no matter how painful or embarrassing you believe they may be."

Dr. Saranita says, "The reality is, your life may depend upon the information you are willing or unwilling to share with your physician. The real world impact of being honest with your physician is the key to fully taking care of you comprehensively."

Both Dr. Paez and Dr. Saranita agree, it is never too late to be honest with your physician and the sooner they understand your complete picture, the sooner you will be feeling better.