Keep a record of your stats (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, etc.) in the Health Stats Tracker. You can read more about each measure in the news section, but for the information specific to you, speak to your doctor about what the numbers mean and what any changes may mean to your health.
To get the most out of visits with your doctor, consider asking the following 10 questions:
- Given my family medical history, what health screenings are recommended?
- What do my symptoms mean?
- What tests do I need? What is the cost?
- What treatments are proven effective?
- Can I make any lifestyle changes that might help improve my condition?
- What is the name of the medicine, and what is it supposed to do?
- Is there a generic version available?
- How will this medication interact with other medicines and supplements I am taking?
- What are the possible side effects of proposed treatments or medications?
- What are my numbers?
- What do they mean?
- What should my targets be?
- When should they be re-checked?
Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association