4 Expert-Approved Tips To Be More Empowered In Your Health In 2022

In order to make the best health care choices for yourself, it's important to feel empowered in a doctor's office setting. As researcher and medical decision-making expert Talya Miron-Shatz, Ph.D., declares on the mindbodygreen podcast: "You have vital information about your symptoms, about how you feel, about what you've been doing," says Miron-Shatz. "And someone should listen to you.

"We have to make sure that we have a [doctor-patient] relationship with someone we trust, who listens to us and who conveys information to us in ways we understand," says Miron-Shatz. "This is crucial. That's the first step." And just like any other relationship in your life, there are some common red flags to watch out for: lack of eye contact, medical gaslighting, and shutting down alternatives are all surefire signs it may be time to break up. 

Let's be real: Medical jargon can be confusing. "It's a language we don't necessarily speak," Miron-Shatz says. So rather than smiling, nodding, and vowing to Google every single word on your way home, Miron-Shatz offers a simple solution: Just ask for clarification! "It's fine and legitimate to not understand, and it's your job to ask and to inquire," she adds. "Rather than be embarrassed about it and thinking, 'Well, the doctor's going to think I'm stupid,' just ask." 

It's a common scenario, according to Miron-Shatz: You're at the doctor's office, you're asking questions to fully understand all the medical jargon, and you instantly forget all the information as soon as you get home. The solution? Write everything down, even if you swear you'll remember.

After you have (and understand) all the information, Miron-Shatz urges you to voice your opinions and concerns, if you have any. People often feel uncomfortable to ask their doctor about alternatives in fear of potentially disrespecting their expertise. However, asking about alternative options does not mean that you don't trust your doctor. "It just means you're being educated, informed, and empowered," she says.  

She continues: "When someone says something that doesn't resonate with you, are you in a place where you can say, 'You know, Doctor, I hear you, but I'm not sure because it's not taking into account the fact that I also have headaches, or that this happens more on days when I eat corn,' or whatever things might be happening," she adds. "It's legitimate for us to voice our concerns, taking into account the doctor's [time] constraints. We have to be very concise, but we deserve answers."