|
|
Home  Senior Living Record Your Health History to Keep Your Healthcare on Track
|
Record Your Health History to Keep Your Healthcare on Track |
|
|
|
Sunday, 01 January 2006 |
How often have you been asked about your health history? Most likely, it’s just about every time you go to the doctor or hospital.
In order for healthcare professionals to know the best ways to treat you and prescribe proper medications, they have to be aware of your current and past health conditions, prescriptions and surgeries, as well as your lifestyle. The best way to remember all your important health information is to write it down and have it ready when you need it—especially during a medical emergency.
A health history log can help remind you and your doctor: when it’s time for a screening or a test, who in your family had which illnesses or diseases that could put you at risk, and when symptoms for different illnesses began, got worse or better, and ended.
All you need is a simple, blank notebook. Start by documenting the important things:
- Doctor visits
- Any major illnesses or surgeries you’ve had and when
- Dates and results of tests, procedures or health screenings
- All the medications you take, dosages and how long you’ve been taking them
It’s also helpful to include:
- Birth date and blood type
- Any chronic conditions you have
- All your allergies, including drug and food allergies
- Family history of illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes and mental illness
- Names and contact information for your pharmacist and all your doctors
- Names and contact information for emergency contacts and/or caregivers
- Name, policy number, address and telephone number of your health insurance company
- Whether you have an advance directive or living will
- Lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, sleep, exercise, eating (how much, how often)
You can expand the history log into a journal, tracking things like exercise, eating and sleeping habits, as well as headaches, depression and allergic reactions. It will help you become more aware of the positive and negative influences on your health.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|