N.O.W: Self Diagnosing
In an age where there is a plethora of information on every subject, the push for greater personal health accountability, and increasingly over sized and impersonal environments of some health care settings, self diagnosing may seem like a logical step in managing your health. After all, WebMD has so many enlightening and informative facts that are just once mouse click away. So what is the problem with sitting down at the computer with your cup of coffee to figure out once and for all what that pain in your stomach is all about?
Doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and naturopaths all go to school in order to become adept at interpreting the multifarious world of medicine. Your symptoms may seem to paint the perfect picture of a specific disease state when you key them into your computer screen, but there is a lot missing from that equation. Most symptoms are similar among many kinds of diseases and imbalances. It takes a trained professional to sift through the information in order to gain an accurate view of what is lying beneath. A high quality health care provider has the ability to take the complex being that you are -- mental, emotion and physical -- gather that information and make an assessment based on those details. As most people know, even with this one-on-one care, it can take multiple visits and sometimes changing care providers to gain necessary health and balance.
Staying away from self diagnosing doesn’t mean keeping yourself in the dark though. It is important to stay informative with regard to your health and your needs. Here are some suggestions to empower yourself in the health realm:
- Research health topics that interest and are relevant to you. There’s no need to stop looking-up topics on the internet. In order to better understand medical vernacular and have a broader scope of alternative treatments when discussing them with your health care provider, it is necessary to get an idea of what is out there. Use the web as a tool and a stepping stone, not the final judgment on your medical condition. Take your findings and discuss them with your health care provider.
- Find a practitioner that fits your needs and lifestyle. No matter what their focus is (complementary medicine, family practice, oncology, etc) it is vital to find someone who has been well trained. Ask around your community and set-up meet-and-greet appointments to help make your decision. You should feel respected and heard as well as confident in the assessment capabilities of your chosen provider. If you don’t, move on until you find one that works for you.
- Ask questions and work to understand the details of the diagnosis you have been given. What may seem like a banal injury can turn into an opportunity to learn more about the anatomy and physiology of your body. This is not only enlightening, but can help you to possibly prevent such injuries in the future. With more complex situations, being informed means being prepared to make decisions about future health outcomes and changes. It may not take all the fear away, but some anxiety may be assuaged, freeing more mental and emotional energy to help get your balance.
Doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and naturopaths all go to school in order to become adept at interpreting the multifarious world of medicine. Your symptoms may seem to paint the perfect picture of a specific disease state when you key them into your computer screen, but there is a lot missing from that equation. Most symptoms are similar among many kinds of diseases and imbalances. It takes a trained professional to sift through the information in order to gain an accurate view of what is lying beneath. A high quality health care provider has the ability to take the complex being that you are -- mental, emotion and physical -- gather that information and make an assessment based on those details. As most people know, even with this one-on-one care, it can take multiple visits and sometimes changing care providers to gain necessary health and balance.
Staying away from self diagnosing doesn’t mean keeping yourself in the dark though. It is important to stay informative with regard to your health and your needs. Here are some suggestions to empower yourself in the health realm:
- Research health topics that interest and are relevant to you. There’s no need to stop looking-up topics on the internet. In order to better understand medical vernacular and have a broader scope of alternative treatments when discussing them with your health care provider, it is necessary to get an idea of what is out there. Use the web as a tool and a stepping stone, not the final judgment on your medical condition. Take your findings and discuss them with your health care provider.
- Find a practitioner that fits your needs and lifestyle. No matter what their focus is (complementary medicine, family practice, oncology, etc) it is vital to find someone who has been well trained. Ask around your community and set-up meet-and-greet appointments to help make your decision. You should feel respected and heard as well as confident in the assessment capabilities of your chosen provider. If you don’t, move on until you find one that works for you.
- Ask questions and work to understand the details of the diagnosis you have been given. What may seem like a banal injury can turn into an opportunity to learn more about the anatomy and physiology of your body. This is not only enlightening, but can help you to possibly prevent such injuries in the future. With more complex situations, being informed means being prepared to make decisions about future health outcomes and changes. It may not take all the fear away, but some anxiety may be assuaged, freeing more mental and emotional energy to help get your balance.
posted by Ania at
6:46 AM
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