bbc health talking to your doctor_02

BBC - Health - Talking to your doctor - Doctor-patient communication

BBC - Health - Talking to your doctor - Doctor-patient communication:

"Around 80 per cent of the information your doctor needs to make a

correct diagnosis comes from what you say. The remaining pieces of the

puzzle are found when you're examined and from tests.

This verbal information - known as your 'history' - is important and

is often obtained in two ways:

* your answers to their questions

* what you say without being prompted

Often it's a little piece of information that you feel is irrelevant

that cracks the diagnosis

Never be afraid to give your doctor information as very little of it

will be unhelpful. Often it's a little piece of information that you

feel is irrelevant that cracks the diagnosis.

Give your doctor as much information as you can. If there's anything

you think they need to know - that you're taking supplements or

over-the-counter medication, for example - then say so. Doctors are