Your doctor can give better-informed advice when they have the full picture, but details are easy to forget in a short appointment. A simple personal health record, kept in a notebook, a phone note or a secure health app, helps you share accurate information quickly.
- List every medicine and supplement you take, including what it is for and how you take it as directed.
- Record allergies, past surgeries, vaccinations and recent test results.
- Note your family health history, such as conditions in parents or siblings.
- Jot down symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse.
Update the record after each visit and bring it with you. Keep it private and secure. If you have new, severe or worsening symptoms, do not wait for a routine appointment; contact a doctor.
