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Doctors Prescribing Weight Loss For Patients' Health
Weight Loss

Has a Doctor Ever Prescribed Weight Loss to You?

In not-so-gentle terms, a friend of mine was told by her doctor that she needs to lose weight.
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In not-so-gentle terms, a friend of mine was told by her doctor that she needs to lose weight. And regardless of her doctor's good intentions, hearing this news was incredibly upsetting to her. To be fair, her doctor comes from a place of concern. With the number of overweight and obese adults on the rise, and the host of medical risks associated with undue weight gain, her doctor was ultimately looking out for her health and not trying to make her feel bad. Starting next week, my friend will be meeting with a nutritionist to figure out a healthy diet plan, and a physical therapist to start an exercise regimen. While still a little shaken from hearing the news, my friend is excited to make health her number one priority.

With obesity becoming a growing concern, I am wondering if this sort of advice is becoming more common from doctors. Tell me . . .

Get a Physical Exam Every Year
healthy living

Do You Get a Physical Every Year?

After running out of birth control pills last week, I called my doctor to ask for a refill.
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After running out of birth control pills last week, I called my doctor to ask for a refill. She went ahead and fulfilled my request, but not before I was gently scolded for ignoring an email reminder for my annual exam. I could tell that she preferred I had my annual before she renewed my BC, but probably thought that the consequences of missing a week's worth of pills were too great. The happy ending is that I'm going in for my annual this week. But honestly, my annual exam might have been postponed even longer if I didn't have a doctor that sent me email reminders. Tell me . . .

Would You Leave Your Doctor If They Had Unhealthy Habits?
healthy living

Would You See an Unhealthy Doctor?

Whenever I go to the hospital I see a group of doctors and nurses huddled together on the sidewalk smoking.
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Whenever I go to the hospital I see a group of doctors and nurses huddled together on the sidewalk smoking. A co-worker recently told me how she was given diet advice from a physician who was visibly overweight. In college I worked at a deli and I can still remember the lunch order of a doctor who came in four times a week — french fries, a Coke, and a pastrami Reuben.

It seems logical that a doctor should be a model of health, but the message some physicians are sending is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Doctors often work long hours in stressful environments. Top that off with being surrounded by vending machines full of junk food and bad coffee, and you have the beginnings of an unhealthy recipe.

Should doctors be forgiven, then, for picking up a few bad habits? Is it what's "up there" that counts the most? Would you feel comfortable taking advice from a doctor who seems unhealthy?

Your Doctor Hates These 5 Things About You
healthy living

Your Doctor Hates These 5 Things About You

I can think of plenty of reasons going to the doctor annoys me.
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I can think of plenty of reasons going to the doctor annoys me. I hate the long wait, I spend more time talking to the nurse than the actual doctor, and when I do see the doctor, he's always so quick to write out a prescription and send me on my way. Who knew, though, that doctors find us frustrating, too. Here are five things MDs hate about their patients.

  1. Patients who lie about their lifestyle. No one wants to admit that they smoke, drink, do drugs, or don't exercise, but if we lie about it to our doctors, then it can prevent us from getting the proper care we need.
  2. Patients who don't follow through with the care the doctor recommended. If a doctor prescribes medication, therapy, or a certain lifestyle change and you don't listen, then it's not only an insult to your doc, but it's also detrimental to your health.

To see what else bugs your doctor, keep reading

Blue Cross Creating Video Doctor Visits
healthy living

Video Appointment vs. Real Doctor's Visit?

Between the drive to the office and waiting time once you arrive, seeing your doctor can end up taking hours.
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Between the drive to the office and waiting time once you arrive, seeing your doctor can end up taking hours. As a time-saving option, Blue Cross is rolling out a new service this Fall — video doctor visits. You connect with your doc via video on your computer, avoiding the office entirely. These medical video chats will not only save time but prevent the spread of germs as well. It could be a convenient alternative for routine visits or everyday illnesses, but obviously wouldn't be recommended for serious issues like chest pains. Watch the video below for more details, and tell me if you'd be into video visits with your doctor.

Dear Poll: Male or Female Gyno?
Poll

Dear Poll: Male or Female Gyno?

Going to the gynecologist isn't a very pleasant experience to begin with, which is why it's so important to find a doctor you're comfortable with.
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Going to the gynecologist isn't a very pleasant experience to begin with, which is why it's so important to find a doctor you're comfortable with. Most women I know prefer female doctors — they feel they're easier to relate to — but I know that many women out there opt for a male doctor instead. No one is better than the other so tell which you prefer!

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Call Your Doctor If You Have These Cold and Flu Symptoms
healthy living

Cold and Flu Tip: See a Doctor When . . .

It may be March, but we're still not over cold and flu season yet.
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It may be March, but we're still not over cold and flu season yet. If you're feeling ill, you may want to call in sick to work, but if your symptoms are severe, what you really might need is a visit to your doctor. According to FamilyDoctor.org, adults should call their doctors when:

  • Your temperature is above 102°F for a few days
  • Symptoms last more than 10 days, or they seem to get worse instead of better
  • You have trouble breathing or shortness of breath
  • You experience chest pressure or pain
  • You feel like you're about to faint
  • Symptoms include confusion or disorientation
  • You experience severe or persistent vomiting
  • You have severe pain in the head or forehead
  • You have hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that won't go away after 10 days

Your doctor may make some recommendations for things to do at home, or she may request you come in for an appointment. Most likely, your cold or flu will go away on its own, but if you're concerned, it's worth getting your doctor's advice just to be sure.

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Speak Up: When Are Second Opinions Necessary?
doctor

Speak Up: When Are Second Opinions Necessary?

To most folks the inner workings of the body are beyond our comprehension, which is why we put so much trust in doctors.
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To most folks the inner workings of the body are beyond our comprehension, which is why we put so much trust in doctors. When it comes to my health, I like to gather as much information as possible, which when dealing with big medical issues means getting a second opinion. Not every one thinks alike though. I have a friend who experiences terrible menstrual cramps, and after birth control pills did nothing to alleviate her pain, her gynecologist recommended a hysterectomy. It sounds like an urban myth, but she was told it was her only option. While my friend, who wants to have kids some day, hasn't had the surgery, she also hasn't sought a second opinion. With health care costs spiraling out of control, and so many rules about seeing a specialist out of network, getting a second opinion these days can be rough. How do you feel about getting the second opinion — is it a good idea, or a stalling technique? Have you seen a second doctor and received totally different advice, treatment, diagnoses? Speak up and share the details in the comment section below.

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How Often Do You Go to the Doc?
healthy living

How Often Do You Go to the Doc?

Growing up, I regularly saw my pediatrician for an annual physical, but when I hit college the only time I went to the doctor was for my annual exam.
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Growing up, I regularly saw my pediatrician for an annual physical, but when I hit college the only time I went to the doctor was for my annual exam. I rarely saw any doctor other than my gynecologist. These days, I only visit the doctor when I am sick but did just recently have a physical with blood tests and all. What about you . . .

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