5 Fibs You Should Never Tell Your Doctor

• May. 07, 2012
• Topic: Wellness

If your heart starts racing at the thought of your next doctor's appointment, you're not alone. Doctors ask questions you may not want to answer. But it's time to fess up; fibbing can cost you your health. If you're guilty of telling these common fibs, you're about to learn the consequences.

I'm not taking any medications

Over-the-counter or Internet-purchased supplements, vitamins and herbs are all items your doctor needs to know about.

"Anything you ingest could affect your health in ways that you may not suspect," says Michelle Kane, DO, Virtua family physician. "If we don't know everything you're taking, we may run unnecessary tests or prescribe a medication you don't need, or you could take a supplement that negatively interacts with other medications."

If you're taking non-prescribed medications and worried about the legal repercussions of divulging the information, you're protected by doctor/patient confidentiality.

I kicked the smoking habit

You may think you're pulling a fast one on your doctor by telling him you quit smoking two years ago, but you're not.

"We can tell if a patient is a smoker when looking into her nose and throat, listening to the lungs, and simply smelling her breath," says Jeffery Thomas, MD, Virtua family physician.

Fibbing about your smoking habit could lead to a misdiagnosis of asthma or allergies.

Also, smoking can interfere with medications you take. For example, smokers on birth control pills are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

I'm a social drinker

Maybe you acknowledge that you drink, but your doctor needs to know exactly how much.

Alcohol irritates the liver, the organ that aids in digestion and removes waste products. Over time, constant irritation can cause cirrhosis, permanently damaging the liver.

Add in prescribed medications, and you could be setting yourself up for further complications.

"Alcohol can reduce the effect of medication," says Dr. Thomas. "It can also increase your risk for seizures and side effects."

I'm feeling fine; I'm not depressed

Think your bout of the blues is a phase you'll soon snap out of? Maybe not.

Even mild symptoms of depression can have a tremendous impact on your life including your relationships, level of intimacy and motivation to work. Talking with your doctor about your feelings can help you get the tools you need to return to your normal self.

I followed your instructions

Doctors understand you may not be able to follow their instructions to a "T," but lying about it could impact your health.

"Sometimes the best treatment for a patient isn't the easiest for her to follow," say Dr. Kane. "However, we need to understand the patient's obstacles to overcome them."

Dr. Kane explains if the expense or side effects of a medication are too much to handle, ask about a generic option or one with fewer side effects. If you prefer alternative methods of treatment to prescriptions, talk with your doctor about the safest approach.

The bottom line is when it comes to your health, you need to fess up and tell the truth. Anything less could cost you your health.