Heart for Health

When you visit a doctor, they often use medical terms or phrases that can be difficult to understand. It's important to know how to ask for clarification and ensure that you understand your diagnosis and treatment options.

Common Medical Terms to Know:

• Diagnosis:

  This is the name of the condition or disease you have. It's important to ask your doctor for an explanation if the diagnosis is unclear.

• Symptoms:

  These are the signs or feelings associated with the condition, such as pain, fatigue, or dizziness.

• Prognosis:

  This is the likely outcome of your condition. Ask your doctor whether the condition is temporary, long-term, or life-threatening.

• Treatment Options:

  Doctors will usually offer one or more treatments, such as medication, surgery, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes. If you don't understand why a specific treatment is recommended, ask them to explain.

• Follow-up Care:

  This refers to any additional tests, appointments, or treatments required after your initial visit. Understanding your follow-up plan is important for monitoring your health.

Making Sense of Test Results:

Medical test results are often filled with technical language, but it's important that you understand them. Ask for clarification on:

• Normal vs. abnormal results:

  What do they mean for your health?

• Next steps:

  What should you do based on the results? Are further tests needed?

• Timeline:

  When will you get results or when should you come back for a follow-up appointment?

Reflection:

Think back to a recent medical visit where you received test results or a diagnosis. Were there any terms or recommendations that you didn't understand? How can you improve your communication with healthcare providers to better understand future test results or treatment plans?