Common Gaffes

The common gaffes patients make include:

* Getting bogged down in irrelevant details.
* Not providing all the facts.
* Not furnishing the information in a chronological sequence.
* Jumbling up the details, so that they jump from one problem to another completely unrelated one.

Giving a clear medical history

It is a medical truism that if the doctor listens to the patient intelligently, he will be able to make the diagnosis correctly. However, just like learning to take in a good history is a skill the doctor needs to master, providing an intelligent history is a skill the patient needs to learn. Patients are often slipshod while recounting their medical history so that the doctor needs to methodically extract the facts from them: and this exercise can be a painful for both!

Giving a clear medical history

It is a medical truism that if the doctor listens to the patient intelligently, he will be able to make the diagnosis correctly. However, just like learning to take in a good history is a skill the doctor needs to master, providing an intelligent history is a skill the patient needs to learn. Patients are often slipshod while recounting their medical history so that the doctor needs to methodically extract the facts from them: and this exercise can be a painful for both!

Categorize your problems systematically

If you remember to categorize all your problems systematically, not only can you make better use of your time with your doctor but you can also help him arrive at a correct diagnosis more quickly! You could rehearse the details you are going to provide to your doctor with a friend or a relative. You could also summarize them on a single sheet of paper, just to make sure you don't forget any vital aspect.

Important Details

In this context, a useful aide memoir includes the following details:

* Site: Location (e.g., pain is in the chest and then spreads to the left arm).
* Quantity: Bringing up a cupful of sputum when coughing.
* Quality: It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest!
* Setting: I usually develop such aches after fighting with my wife.
* Aggravating factors: Stomachache becomes worse after eating.
* Alleviating factors: Breathlessness becomes better after resting.
* Associated Symptoms: Other related complaints.

Give a Clear Description

You need to be able to describe your problem as accurately as possible. For example, if your problem is a headache, you should be able to provide all the details! For instance: Where does it hurt? Has the pain spread elsewhere? How severe is the pain? What does the pain feel like? Is it a sharp, dull, or throbbing pain? When does it occur? What makes it better? What makes it worse? Have you noticed any other symptoms or signs recently, such as fever, shortness of breath or blood in the urine? When did the problem start? Has it changed since then? Have you felt like this before? If so, when? What made the pain better then? Is it affecting your daily activities such as sleeping or eating?

Medical History

The simple fact that in over 80 per cent of cases the diagnosis of the illness can be made purely on the basis of what the patient tells the doctor (what is called a medical history) should emphasize the importance of one's ability to talk intelligently to one's doctor! While the capability of absorbing the relevant details of an individual's medical history is one of the key skills of a competent physician, being able to provide a lucid history is a key skill on the part of a good patient.

The Final Analysis

In the final analysis, remember that the most reliable test for a doctor's suitability for you is your own gut instinct - after all, if you don't feel comfortable with your doctor, you are not likely to be able to work well together in your health care partnership with him! On the other hand, if you have faith in his abilities and can trust him that he will do his best for you, you are likely to get excellent medical care

HELP TALKS - Dr.Ghazala Shaikh on Reviving the Forgotten Healing Powers of Unani Medicine

This video is a talk by Dr.Ghazala Shaikh at HELP on 28th Feb,11. Topic "Reviving the Forgotten Healing Powers of Unani Medicine".

Dr.Ghazala Shaikh can be contacted at 9324870825.

Dr.Ghazala Shaikh - Her Experience on giving a talk at HELP

This video is a feedback by Dr.Ghazala Shaikh on Her Experience on giving a talk at HELP.

At HELP, we organize talks everyday by doctors/specialists on different health related topics, issues. These talks are recorded and uploaded on our website, youtube, facebook, orkut, twitter.

Are you a doctor? Would you like to give a talk at HELP Library? Feel free to contact us at HELP - 22061101, 22031133.

For more details log in to our website www.healthlibrary.com

Feedback - Reviving the Forgotten Powers of Unani Medicine

This video is a feedback by one of our readers Mr.Joseph Martins on the HELP TALK - Reviving the Forgotten Powers of Unani Medicine by Dr.Ghazala Shaikh conducted on 28th Feb, 11. For more details log in to our website www.healthlibrary.com

No Doctor is Right for everyone

There is no single who is Dr. Right for everyone, and you may need to hunt patiently and persistently for the doctor who is right for you, depending upon your temperament, personality, and perhaps age and sex. Different patients have different expectations- some need to be told what to do while others want all their questions answered. Obviously, they will need different types of doctors. Most people invest a lot of brain power and analytical skills deciding which shares or stocks to buy, but doing in - depth research for finding the right doctor is likely to pay much better dividends for you and your family!

HELP TALKS - Mr.Nasir Mahmood on Understanding Sujok by Tri-Origin Theory

This video is a workshop conducted by Mr.Nasir Mahmood at HELP on 26th February' 11 : Topic - "Understanding Sujok by Tri-Origin Theory"

Mr.Nasir Mahmood can be contacted at 99301 78879.

Mr.Nasir Mahmood - Why he likes to give talks at HELP

This video is a feedback by Mr.Nasir Mahmood on Why he likes to give talks at HELP Library.

At HELP, we organize talks everyday by doctors/specialists on different health related topics, issues. These talks are recorded and uploaded on our website, youtube, facebook, orkut, twitter.

Are you a doctor? Would you like to give a talk at HELP Library? Feel free to contact us at HELP - 22061101, 22031133.

For more details log in to our website www.healthlibrary.com

Feedback - Understanding Sujok by Tri-Origin Theory

This video is a feedback by one of our readers on the HELP TALK - Understanding Sujok by Tri-Origin Theory by Mr.Nasir Mahmood conducted on 26th Feb, 11. For more details log in to our website www.healthlibrary.com

Changing your Doctor

Changing doctors is never easy, because, over a period of time you do build up a personal relationship with your doctor. However, you should consider changing doctors if you strongly feel that:

* the doctor is incompetent (i.e. he has ignored obvious symptoms, missed a diagnosis, prescribed the wrong drug, or can't get to the bottom of your problem);
* the doctor does not communicate with you effectively ( i.e., his explanations are not in lay person's language or no time is given to you to ask questions and bring up related problems);
* the doctor does not pay attention to your needs and concern
* you have lost confidence in the doctor's skill and ability.
* you find the doctor is too inconsiderate ( i.e., he makes you wait a long time for an appointment, he fails to return your phone calls, he does not provide clinic time during evening or weekend hours ); and
* your doctor is too expensive.

Schedule of HELP TALK from 1st March to 15th March, 2011

Hello Dear Readers,

As you know, we constantly try to upgrade the talks conducted at the center, you shouldn't miss!

Following is the schedule of the talks/workshops. All of these talks are absolutely Free of charge.

For details log on to our website:www.healthlibrary.com.

Please do attend and also inform your friends and relatives who could take advantage of this unique free service.

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Would you like your doctor to give a HELP Talk? Please send us his/her contact number or email id and we will invite him/her to HELP Library.

Tue 1st Mar 3.30pm	Dr.Kishore Punjabi	Ease Pains and Aches by Chiropractic Therapy	*
Wed 2nd Mar 4.00pm	Mr.Nitin Jain	Meditation on Inner Self
Thu 3rd Mar 4.30pm	Mr.Sunil Raikar	How to make Examination Fun for Children – Talk for Parents	*
Fri 4th Mar 3.30pm	Mr.Kishore Kuvavala	Simple Effective Exercises for Daily Life	*
Sat 5th Mar 3.30pm	Mr.Y.P. Munsif	Creating Abundance and Prosperity through Good Health	*
Mon 7th Mar 3.30pm	Dr.Iqbal Shaikh	Let Like Be Cured By Like - Medicines in Homeopathy	*
Tue 8th Mar 3.00pm	Ms.Neeta Sukthankar	Mantra for Women’s Health and Happiness	*
Wed 9th Mar 3.30pm	Dr.Rohit Bartake	Herbs that Heal - II	*
Thu 10th Mar 4.00pm	Dr.Zinobia Madan	Simple, Small Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle	*
Fri 11th Mar 3.30pm	Mr.Shirish Awdhani	Secrets of Aging Well	*
Sat 12th Mar 3.30pm	Dr.Sonal Chauhan	Ear - A Treasury of Acupressure Points	*
Mon 14th Mar 4.00pm	Mrs.Mangala Sarda	Aum and Hasta Mudra	*
Tue 15th Mar 4.00pm	Dr.Muneerah Kuraishi	Permanent Weight Reduction through Yoga and Diet	*

To register call: 65952393/94, 22061101, 22031133

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Evaluate your Physician

In order to feel good about your medical care, you should feel good about your doctor, too. In this context, ask yourself the following questions in order to evaluate your physician:

* Does your doctor listen to you and answer all your questions about the causes and treatment of your medical problems, or is he vague, impatient or unwilling to answer them?
* Are you comfortable with your doctor? Can you openly discuss your inner most feelings and talk about intimate personal matters, including sexual and emotional problems?
* Does your doctor take a thorough history, asking for relevant factors about past physical and emotional problems, family medical history, medications you are taking and other matters affecting your health?
* Does your doctor address the root causes of your medical problems or does he merely prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms?
* Is your doctor well-groomed? A doctor who cannot be bothered to take care of how he looks may not look after you carefully either!
* Does your doctor smoke? (if yes, this should be a black mark against him!)
* Are you satisfied with the doctor's stand-in when he or she is unavailable?
* Do you feel at ease while asking your doctor questions that may sound "silly"?
* Does your doctor explain complex medical jargon in simple terms?
* Are the office staff members friendly? Do they listen to you patiently?
* Does your doctor answer your telephone calls promptly?
* Are you usually kept waiting for a long time even if you have fixed an appointment before hand?
* Does the doctor have hospital privileges at a respected medical institution?


If you are not satisfied with the answers to the proceeding questions, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Even after this discussion if you are still not satisfied, you should consider looking for another doctor.

Searching a Specialist

The best way of beginning the search is by asking your doctor. To start with, your doctor knows you and your situation better than any other physician, also since most doctors are aware of the accomplishments of "super-specialists" who practice at large university hospitals or research based facilities, your doctor can help you identify there experts. If you can find a book relating to your problem, then the author (if he is a doctor) is likely to be a good choice. The other option is to find the name of a doctor or the head of a clinic or department which is actively publishing their medical research in this field (you can easily do this by doing a Medline search). This doctor (or the head of the clinic) is likely to be an authority in the subject, and will be well-informed of the latest advances in the field. Many patients naively assume that all they need to do to get good medical care is to make a beeline for the west. However, do not automatically assume that just because you go to the USA, the UK or Germany, you will find a competent doctor - you need to do your homework thoroughly before making the trip!

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