The first time you visit a new doctor, you will likely be met with a pretty significant pile of paperwork. From insurance documents to questions about your family's medical history, doctors need certain pieces of information before they can offer you accurate information about your health. Fortunately, by offering great information, your doctor can improve your treatment. Here are three reasons your medical history is important for your physician. 

1. Streamline Diagnoses

Putting all of the pieces together is your doctor's job, but without every part of the puzzle, physicians can't make accurate diagnoses. One of the most pertinent reasons you should fill out medical history accurately is the fact that it could help your doctor to create accurate diagnoses faster. 

For instance, while dry skin on its own could be a sign of a thousand things including insufficient hydration or a dry home, dry skin with hair loss and weight gain could be a sign of hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism. By telling your doctor everything about your health, you can make certain things more clear to them, which can really help your results.  

2. Gauge Your Healthcare Risks

One of the big things indicated on paperwork is your family medical history, since issues with your parents could signal a higher risk for personal medical problems. For instance, problems with things like arthritis, diabetes, or heart issues could stem from a long list of issues, which is why it could be important to share personal details about your family life. 

Talk with your doctor about your parent's health, including their run-ins with issues like alcoholism, addictive behavior, cancer, obesity, or depression. With that kind of information recorded, your doctor can be on the lookout for the signs you are struggling with the same problem. 

3. Create Personalized Treatment Plans

Understanding your personal medical history is also important to help your physician to create tailored treatment plans for you. For instance, if you write down that you were involved in a serious accident a few years back, treatments for things like arthritis or ongoing pain may be slightly different. Likewise, if you struggle with addiction, treatment plans could vary significantly depending on your current situation. 

Although it can seem strange to share so much information, be as transparent as possible about your medical history. In addition to potentially helping your doctor to save your life, it gives you a great way to start some talking points with your physician, which can make appointments a little more pleasant. 

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