(Snippets from the frontline)
Time
The body talks to us. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may be a reaction to food poisoning. Chills and shakes could be the onset of flu. Muscle aches can be a warning not to play basketball with grandkids believing you’re still in your teens.
Most symptoms are self-limited and typically resolve. When the body speaks loudly and persistently, one seeks the advice of a doctor.
Physicians are like detectives translating potential warning signs into a diagnosis. Information is obtained in history taking, physical exam, lab work, or radiologic testing.
For more than 80% of my patients a diagnosis is achieved spending time to ask questions, listen, and do a thorough body examination. Healthcare has been streamlined by business diminishing time, which is detrimental to patient care.
Shortchanging questions in taking a history, while skimming physical exams are now the norm as doctors are not allowed adequate time to gather pertinent information. Instead, reliance is given to sometimes ambiguous and misleading labs and x-ray testing that are costly.
When you see your doctor, bring notes concerning all aspects of what your body is saying to you.
And stay off the basketball court unless you can still slam dunk.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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