Learning more about your medical condition - WSET.com - ABC13

By Diane Griffith, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
 Content provided by
 

You've been poked and prodded. You've had the tests and anxiously awaited the results. Finally, the verdict is in. Now you know what's been ailing you.

Maybe it's a condition you've heard of before or maybe it's completely unfamiliar. Whether you've just been diagnosed, or are in the midst of making a medical decision, learn all you can.

Empowering yourself with knowledge of your disease is the first step to managing it well. Learn everything you can about your diagnosis and treatment options and take charge of your health.

1. Choose and use your doctor
Your doctor or nurse is your best source for learning more about your symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options. Your doctor will help you understand your condition and teach you how to keep it under control, what to watch for and when to call. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding your illness.

Start by asking your doctor:

• What caused my illness?
• How can I stop it from getting worse?
• Does my condition put me at risk for any other diseases?
• Is it permanent?
• How can I ease my symptoms?
• What treatment options are available?
• What are the risks and benefits of each treatment?
• How much do treatments cost? Are they covered by my health insurance?
• What activities or foods, if any, should I avoid?
• How do I take my medication?
• Under what circumstances should I contact you? Make an appointment? Get emergency care?

Your doctor can also point you in the direction of health education programs and support groups for your condition. If you want to gain more perspective on your illness, consider getting a second opinion from another doctor or specialist.

2. Do your own research
There are many helpful health resources on the Web. But beware. While there is a lot of good, accurate information, there's plenty that's not. Only search reliable websites to learn about your condition:

• Search this website. Browse the "health hubs" and the "diseases and conditions" tabs at the top of this page.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) at www.nih.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov and other federal and state government websites ending in ".gov" are reliable sources.
• Organizations exist for just about every disease or condition, including:
  • The American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org
  • The American Heart Association at www.heart.org
  • The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org.
• If your condition is rare, check out the website for the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) at www.rarediseases.org. NORD will provide you with information on the disorder and a searchable database that links to organizations specific to that disease.

Your doctor knows the exact details of your illness, so confirm anything you read on the Internet with him or her. Never change your treatment unless directed by your doctor.

3. Don't play doctor
Online information is not a substitute for doctor visits. If you have not yet seen a doctor, don't diagnose yourself by using the Internet. Many diseases present with similar symptoms so it's critical to see your doctor.

SOURCES:

• Health on the Net Foundation. Quality and trustworthiness of the medical and health web. Accessed: 02/11/2010

• University of Minnesota. Taking charge of your health. Accessed: 02/11/2010

• National Organization of Rare Disorders. Rare disease database. Accessed: 02/11/2010

• National Women's Health Information Center. How to talk to your doctor or nurse. Accessed: 02/11/2010