What is health?

You may think this is a simple question or even a silly one.  Everyone knows that being healthy means not feeling sick or having a disease.  Right?  But health is more than this.  The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [being weak or frail].”¹  This definition has not changed since it was written in 1948.  Yet, it is not the way many people tend to think of health. 

Who is a healthcare provider?

You may have been taught to think of clinicians (doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) as healthcare providers. Perhaps you learned that they provided health--by ordering tests, prescribing medicine, doing surgery.  When we think about the WHO’s definition of health, we can see the huge role we can take in our lives to stay healthy.  You are the one who knows yourself best.  You know when a part of your body does not feel right.  You know your lifestyle habits (e.g., patterns of eating, drinking, sleeping, smoking, exercising).  When paying attention, you know when you are angry, frightened, anxious, stressed.  All these things can affect your health.  So, your clinician (who may only see you one to two hours per year) is not your healthcare provider.  You are your own healthcare provider. You can do a lot to keep yourself healthy.

How can I become a partner with my clinician?

One way to improve health is to become partners with your clinician.  Clinicians have the medical knowledge, and you have a wealth of information about yourself.  Finding a way to share this information with each other can make for a very powerful team.  If you do not already have a primary care clinician, find one with whom you feel comfortable.  Continue to see this clinician over time, so that you get to know each other.

What information should I share with my clinician?

• When seeing your clinician, be as clear as you can about the reason for your visit. 

• What questions do you want answered? 
• What concerns do you have about your health?

• If you have a symptom that concerns you, jot down details to share with your clinician. 

• When did the symptom start? 
• Do you have it all the time? 
• How much does it bother you? 
• What makes it better?  What makes it worse?
• If the symptom is pain, what does it feel like—burning, stabbing, aching?  How bad is it when it is at its worst?  How bad is it when it hurts the least? 
• How have you tried to relieve the symptom?  List everything tried: medication, over-the-counter remedies, acupuncture, massage, rest, exercise, heat, cold, etc.