To say to your doctor: “Yes doctor, I take my failing tablets“,”No, I hardly drink“,
or again “Of course, I do sports regularly“, is one of those” harmless “lies that practitioners hear every day. In reality, each lie, as small as it is, can distort a diagnosis or prevent suitable care. Here are the most frequent omissions … and the risks they imply.
“I hardly drink alcohol”
Voluntarily reducing its actual alcohol consumption can cause interpretation errors during medical examinations. For example, a blood test by alcohol could hide a more serious disorder. The doctor may miss an essential diagnosis.
“I stopped the cigarette”
Lying to avoid hearing the dangers of tobacco is a common temptation. However, smoking can influence the effectiveness of certain drugs, or explain a persistent cough or poor healing. And above all, as Dr. Kierzek recalls, this also deprives the doctor of the opportunity to offer weaning assistance solutions.
“My diet is balanced”
Having to believe that we favor vegetables and healthy meals, while frequent fast foods several times a week, can distort understanding of metabolic disorders. Excess cholesterol or unexplained weight gain can thus be misinterpreted, resulting in unsuitable treatment.
“I play sports every day”
Exaggerating his level of physical activity can orient the doctor in the wrong direction. A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for pathologies such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It is best to be honest, even if it means mentioning more modest activities such as walking or gardening.
“Only one sexual partner this year”
Having the reality of her sex life can delay the screening of sexually transmitted infections. The more partners, the more the risk increases, and truncated information can delay appropriate care.
“I have no sexual problem”
Evoking intimate disorders such as erection disorders or a drop in libido remains difficult, but these symptoms may be indicative of hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular diseases or psychological disorders. The silence amounts to close the door to a possible treatment.
“I don’t consume drugs”
The consumption of illicit substances, even occasional, can disrupt the action of certain treatments. Some drugs can also deteriorate vital organs. Informing his doctor is essential for him to properly adapt his prescriptions.
“I don’t take supplements”
Certain food supplements, such as plants or vitamins, can interact with drugs. Millepertuis, for example, decreases the effectiveness of certain antidepressants or the contraceptive pill. This kind of detail, if hidden, can cause undesirable effects.
“I am my treatment to the letter”
The reality is often different: near one in two chronic patients does not follow their treatment correctly. Whether by oblivion, for fear of side effects or for economic reasons, it is essential to talk to your doctor, which can then adapt prescriptions or offer simpler or less expensive alternatives.
“I don’t take any over the counter medication”
Even drugs without a prescription, such as paracetamol, anti-inflammatory drugs or sleeping pills, can interfere with current treatments. Some, like ibuprofen, can even worsen certain pathologies. Again, it is better to report any catch, even occasional.
The capital importance of telling the truth
Not to say everything to your doctor is to take the risk of receiving unsuitable treatment, or to delay a diagnosis. Each information, so commonplace may seem, can be decisive. Without forgetting that medical confidentiality guarantees total discretion.
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of True Medical, recalls this: “Its goal is to treat. The more detail the doctor, the more he can adapt his treatment and anticipate possible health problems.“”
He also insists on the need to indicate all the elements likely to influence treatment, including medicinal supplements and plants: “Drugs, supplements and herbs taken” must be systematically mentioned. Even “seemingly minor symptoms” can announce more serious disorders, he adds.
Finally, he encourages patients not to hesitate to speak of still too taboos: digestive, urinary disorders, psychic, financial or professional difficulties. “”It is important to overcome embarrassment or fear of judgment to share this information. Doctors are bound by professional secrecy and aim to “help their patients, not to judge them“, He concludes.
Often harmless, these little lies can have heavy consequences. Being transparent with your doctor is already taking a step towards better health.