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Which of your health problems bothers you most? Which one do you want to focus on first?What matters most to you: living a long time, staying independent, or having the least amount of pain or other symptoms?Are any of your treatments causing side effects or problems?Plan your doctor visits wisely, ahead of time. When you see your doctor, make a plan for what you want to discuss and come prepared with notes or questions. Do not try to do too much at once. If you need to, make more than one appointment.Make sure that your main doctor, and any other doctor or nurse who prescribes medicines for you, knows about all of the medicines you take. This includes any over-the-counter or herbal medicines you use on a regular basis. It is also helpful to bring the actual bottles of pills you take to each visit, so your doctors or nurses can review them. Ask your main doctor or nurse to go over all your medicines with you at least once a year.Keep a list of all the medicines you take that includes the dose you take, your reason for taking it, and the doctor or nurse who prescribed it. Carry this list with you and bring it with you to all of your medical appointments. You can find an example of this kind of list at the following Web site: www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm079489.htm.Ask your doctors and nurses if there are things you can do on your own to deal with any of your health problems. Some medical problems get better with lifestyle or diet changes. If you can improve your condition with lifestyle changes, you might be able to avoid the risks and side effects of some of your medicines or treatments.
Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better? " ” Yes. There are things that all people can do to improve their health. Here are some things you can do: ‚
- Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, and low in sweets and processed flours. For example, choose whole grain breads and pastas over white bread or pasta.
- Do some sort of physical activity most days of the week, and build up your activity level slowly. Even small amounts of activity done several times a day can help you get stronger.
- Try to get enough sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor or nurse about possible solutions.
- If you feel depressed or anxious, talk to your doctor or nurse. Depression and anxiety can make other health problems hard to manage.
- Plan activities with other people, so you aren't stuck at home alone for days. If friends and family are not around, look at your local paper for ways to meet new people through senior centers, religious groups, libraries, garden clubs, or other activity groups.
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. ‚
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. ‚
Topic 86146 Version 6.0 ‚
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 ‚
‚ © 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. ‚
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