Q: This may includes both physical and mental health and acute and chronic conditions. You should tell the doctor:  When the condition developed How long you had it What symptoms you had How it was treated The doctor will likely want to know:  What the problem was How it was treated Where you were treated — the doctor may ask for medical records from the procedures or treatments If there were any complications during the treatment If you had any adverse reactions to anesthesia This should include both drugs you are currently taking and those you have previously taken. It includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, alternative medicines, herbal remedies, dietary supplements and vitamins. It is important for the doctor to know about everything because some substances, even herbal remedies or vitamins, can interact with medications. If you are unsure how to describe it to your doctor, you can bring the pill bottles to your appointment and the doctor will be able to obtain the necessary information from the prescriptions. For everything you take, the doctor will want to know:  The dosage The frequency with which you take it What you take it for How long you have been taking it Many people see the doctor for relief from seasonal allergies, but there are also many other things that trigger allergic reactions. For each type of allergy you have, describe what the trigger is and how you react to it. Common triggers for allergic reactions include:  Seasonal sources like plant pollen Dust Pet dander Anesthesia Latex Foods, for example nuts Bee stings Medications, including some antibiotics This is important for determining whether you may need boosters for some vaccines. Tell your doctor when you last received which vaccines and whether you have recently or will soon travel to a place where you may need additional vaccines. Vaccines are available for:  Flu (nasal spray or shot) Pneumonia Polio Tetanus Chicken pox Diphtheria Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Measles Mumps Rubella HiB Pertussis Rotavirus Yellow fever Your doctor will likely be interested in the health risks you encounter in your environment and helping you to minimize them. Your doctor may ask about:  Your job. Some jobs have health risks including exposure to dangerous chemicals or radioactive substances. Your doctor may be able to advise you on how to reduce your exposure through using protective gear. Substance use. This may include the use of alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drugs. If you are interested in quitting drinking, smoking, or taking drugs, your doctor will be able to advise you on what resources are available to help you. Sexual activity. You may feel that the doctor is asking very invasive questions, but it is important you answer as honestly as possible. She may ask about how many partners in the past year, the sex of your partners, if you practice anal intercourse, if you use contraception, if there have been any pregnancies, and so on. Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about the risks and possible solutions, including different forms of birth control. Your dietary and exercise habits. Eating healthy and exercising reduces your risk for many conditions, especially cardiovascular conditions. This means that your doctor will probably want to know if your diet and exercise habits are likely to be improving or harming your long-term health. Your doctor may suggest regular screenings if you are at a high risk for developing a particular condition. If this is the case, the doctor will tell you how frequently to come into be checked. You many need screenings based on the following:  A family history of a condition like cancer which may have a genetic component A prior diagnosis of a serious condition that is now in remission Warning signs that you may be at the early stages of developing a health problem Your age and gender, such as colonoscopies beginning at age 50, etc.
A: Describe any past or present conditions that you have. Tell the doctor about any past surgeries or hospitalizations. Give the doctor a list of all medications that you take. Describe your allergies. Provide your doctor with your vaccine history. Answer honestly when your doctor asks about your lifestyle. Ask your doctor if you need regular screenings.

Q: Smoking becomes such a natural part of a smoker’s daily routine that it becomes second nature. One of the most difficult parts of quitting is building new habits. You can help them with this (or recruit others to help).  Ask them what they enjoyed about smoking. Find a replacement with another activity where they can do something similar. If they smoke on their work breaks, offer to go on a walk with them instead. If they smoke after a meal, ask them to help clean up or walk the dog. If they smoke first thing in the morning, offer to share a cup of coffee with them. If they smoke when they drink, avoid parties or bars where alcohol is served. If they get the urge to smoke, try to be available to talk them out of it. Your loved one will experience some withdrawal symptoms. It’s best to address them head-on and be supportive through those difficult times. Remind them that these symptoms are temporary.  Weight gain is common. If this happens, offer to exercise with them and help restructure their diet. Sleep might be hard to come by for a while. Suggest some things they can do, like read a book, watch a television show, or write in a journal. Don’t take their bad moods personally. Continue to be positive and let them know that it’s okay to have bad days. Remind them how proud you are. Physical withdrawals usually only last 5-7 days, but the psychological withdrawal may last longer. Most people who quit smoking will slip up at some point in their process. It’s normal, and it’s okay. Unfortunately, a lot of quitters will see it as a sign of failure and stop trying. The first 2 weeks are usually the hardest.  Remind them of all the reasons they wanted to quit in the first place (or should quit). Let them know they can still quit and haven’t failed. Identify the trigger so they know what to avoid moving forward. Quitting smoking is not easy. Reward their efforts along the way. They promote encouragement and remind your loved one they’re still moving in the right direction.  One of the best outcomes of quitting is the money they’ll save. Suggest that they set that money aside and treat themselves when they’ve quit smoking. Hawaii, anyone? Incremental rewards and praise is important. Consistent positive feedback or tangible rewards are helpful reminders of progress. Don’t leave it up to them to let you know how they’re doing. Ask. Keep an eye on how they’re progressing so you know when to offer more support, or when to reward successes.
A: Help distract them. Address withdrawal symptoms. Push them to keep trying if they “slip up”. Reward milestones and successes. Check in with them.

Q: An angled or sloped bottle helps to keep the milk at the top of the bottle, where the nipple is, even when your baby moves the bottle around. This keeps the nipple full at all times. These bottles are specially designed so that air cannot reach the milk. The nipple is separated from the bottle by a one-way valve.  Use a bottle with a valve at the top. This valve allows just enough air to enter the bottle so that your baby can drink easily, without consuming any air bubbles. In this case, the straw is not actually used for drinking. Instead, the straw acts like a vent, so it makes it easier for your baby to drink out of the bottle without drinking any air bubbles.
A:
Use angled bottles. Try a bottle with a one-way valve. Try a bottle that has a straw vent.