How Well Do You Know Your Own Health?

As a nurse, I ask people a lot of questions about their health. What medications do you take? Do you know what they’re for? Do you have any allergies? What does your blood pressure usually run? When was your last tetanus shot? Is there a history of heart disease, diabetes or cancer in your family?

You might be surprised by how often the answer is, “I’m not really sure.”

And really, that’s understandable. Most of us have a lot of information to keep track of, and unless you work in healthcare, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your latest kidney function or trying to remember the date of your last tetanus booster.

But maybe we should know a little more about our own health.

There’s a term for this in healthcare: health literacy. It sounds much more complicated than it really is. To me, being health literate simply means understanding enough about your health to ask good questions, make informed decisions and be an active participant in your care.

I like to think of it as knowing your own health story.

You certainly don’t need to understand every medical term or be able to interpret every number on a lab report. That’s what your healthcare team is there for. But there are a few things I think we should all know about ourselves.

Know What’s Normal for You

When you have bloodwork done, do you ever actually look at the results?

You don’t need to study them or memorize every number, but it’s worth becoming familiar with some of the basics. Depending on your health history, that might include your cholesterol, blood sugar or A1C, kidney function and blood counts. It’s also helpful to know what your blood pressure typically runs.

One thing we pay attention to in nursing is not just whether a number is “normal,” but whether it is normal for that person and how it has changed over time.

Maybe your blood pressure has always run on the lower side. Perhaps your kidney function has been stable for years. Or maybe your blood sugar has slowly been creeping up over your last few annual visits. Those trends can tell us a lot.

At your next appointment, try asking, “Are there any numbers here that I should be paying attention to?” You don’t need to become an expert in lab values. You just want to have a general sense of your baseline so you know when something is changing.

Know What You’re Taking—and Why

Medication lists have a funny way of getting longer as we get older, especially when more than one healthcare provider is involved.

It’s not unusual for someone to know exactly when they take a pill but have no idea what it actually does. I’ve heard plenty of versions of, “I take the little white one in the morning.”

That may work at home, but it isn’t especially helpful when you’re sitting in an emergency room trying to answer questions about your medications.

Ideally, you should know the name of each medication, the dose, how often you take it and why you take it. Your list should also include vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter medications you use regularly.

Keep that list somewhere easy to find, and make sure someone you trust knows where it is too. I’m also a big believer in reviewing medications annually if not more often with your doctor. Ask whether you still need everything on the list and whether there are any interactions or side effects you should know about.

And if you have absolutely no idea why you’re taking something, ask. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Can you remind me what this is for?”

Don't Forget About Vaccinations

Most of us were very good about keeping track of vaccinations when our children were little. Our own vaccination records? Sometimes not so much.

Vaccination recommendations continue throughout adulthood and can change depending on your age, health history and other risk factors. You don’t need to keep the entire adult vaccination schedule in your head. Just keep a record of what you’ve had and make it part of the conversation during your routine appointments.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist, “Am I up to date on the vaccines that are recommended for me?”

Simple enough.

Your Family's Health History Matters Too

Do you know what health conditions run in your family?

Most of us know the big things. Maybe Dad had heart disease or Grandma had breast cancer. But knowing a little more can be helpful. How old were they when they were diagnosed? Is there a history of diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, dementia or certain cancers? Have several people in the family had the same condition?

You don’t need to create a complicated family medical tree. Having a general understanding of the health history of your parents, grandparents and siblings is a great start.

This is also one of those conversations that is worth having sooner rather than later. We spend a lot of time asking our parents and grandparents about family stories, traditions and old photographs. While you’re at it, ask a few questions about the family's health history.

It’s part of your family story too.

Please Ask Questions

If there is one thing I wish everyone felt more comfortable doing in healthcare, it’s asking questions.

Healthcare has its own language, and those of us who work in it every day sometimes forget that. If your doctor explains something and you don’t understand it, say so. If you’re given a new diagnosis, ask what it means. If a test is being ordered, ask what they’re looking for. If you’re starting a medication, ask what it should do and what side effects you should watch for.

You should walk out of an appointment having a pretty good idea of what was discussed and what happens next.

And please don’t sit there nodding politely while thinking, I have absolutely no idea what any of this means.

Ask again. A good healthcare provider wants you to understand.

Know Your Health Story Before You Need It

After years of nursing, I can tell you that an emergency room is a terrible place to start piecing together someone's medical history.

Unfortunately, that’s often when families realize how much they don’t know.

What medications does Mom take? Does Dad have any allergies? Who is his cardiologist? When did she have that surgery? Has anyone made a list of all of this?

Those questions are much easier to answer when you’re sitting comfortably at home rather than trying to remember everything during a stressful situation.

Take a little time to put together a simple health summary. Include your medications, allergies, major diagnoses, surgeries, healthcare providers, vaccinations and any important family history. Keep it updated and make sure a spouse, adult child or another trusted person knows where to find it.

Being health literate doesn’t mean you need to become an expert in medicine. It simply means knowing enough about your own health to be part of the conversation.

Know your medications and why you take them. Have a general idea of the health numbers that matter to you. Keep track of your vaccinations and learn a little about your family health history. Most importantly, ask questions when something doesn’t make sense.

Your healthcare team knows medicine. You know you. And when we put those two things together, we can usually make much better decisions about your health.

You might be surprised by what you know, and what you don’t. If you don't know where to start, Blue Skies Nursing is here to help.

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Together... we've got this!