How to Talk with Your Doctor

Sidney Stevens, Ronald L. Hoffman

Description

Now more than ever patients are taking control of their own health care, leaving many conventional physicians unsure about their role as dispensers of medical knowledge. More waiting rooms are now filled with highly informed medical consumers seeking to partner with their doctors. They want to explore all promising treatiments, both mainstream and alternative, and connect emotionally. To physicians, these patients seem needy and demanding. They expect a lot of attention, but are all too quick to question authority and battle doctors for control of medical care. To patients, though, such physicans come off as distant and stodgy, even arrogant. Many walk away entirely from mainstream medicine seeking a better partnership or they neglect to mention the alternative tretments they're using for fear of disapproval. Less assertive patients simply clam up-put off by doctors' increasingly brusque bedside manner and shorthand use of "medicalese." The unfortunate result in each case is the same: miscommunication and missed opportunities. Patiens fail to receive the best care available to them, and doctor-patient relationships fall far short of the caring and mutually satisfying exchanges they should be. "How to Talk with Your Doctor" is a book for patients and doctors alike. It arms patients with the tools and knowledge they need to communicate better with physicians about using the best high-tech and alternative treatments while also helping doctors balance their skepticism of complementary and alternative approaches with open-mindedness.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Santé du quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Fitness
• Health
• Ronald Hoffman

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781591205241
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Praise for How to Talk with Your Doctor
This important and groundbreaking book bridges the great divide between traditional and alternative medicine. As Dr. Hoffman so astutely points out (and blends seamlessly in his own practice), the two can co-exist. It is time to forge this alliance for the optimal holistic approach to health, longevity and well-being—and this book provides the practical tools we need to make this happen. A must read for patients and physicians alike. Highly recommended!
—N ICHOLAS P ERRICONE , M.D., A DJUNCT P ROFESSOR OF M EDICINE AT M ICHIGAN S TATE U NIVERSITY ‘ S C OLLEGE OF H UMAN M EDICINE , AND FORMER A SSISTANT C LINICAL P ROFESSOR OF D ERMATOLOGY AT Y ALE S CHOOL OF M EDICINE ; B EST - SELLING AUTHOR OF T HE P ERRICONE W EIGHT L OSS D IET , T HE P ERRICONE P RESCRIPTION , AND T HE P ERRICONE P ROMISE

How to Talk with Your Doctor should be required reading for anyone who is frustrated with modern medicine—patients and physicians alike. In this engaging and articulate book, Ronald Hoffman, M.D., a pioneer in alternative medicine (with impeccable mainstream credentials, too), shows readers how to take charge of their healthcare and offers practical solutions for common health concerns. He also lays the groundwork for a new model of medicine that just might be the answer for our ailing healthcare system.
—J ULIAN W HITAKER , M.D., F OUNDER AND D IRECTOR OF THE W HITAKER W ELLNESS I NSTITUTE ; A UTHOR OF T HE W HITAKER W ELLNESS W EIGHT L OSS P ROGRAM , D R . W HITAKER ’ S G UIDE TO N ATURAL H EALING , R EVERSING D IABETES , AND H EALTH & H EALING , THE NATION ’ S LEADING HEALTH NEWSLETTER

How to Talk with Your Doctor serves as the long-awaited link between mainstream and complementary approaches to challenging medical issues as well as maintaining optimal health. Dr. Hoffman expands our vistas, allowing the reader to embrace the most comprehensive view of health and disease.
—D AVID P ERLMUTTER , M.D., F.A.C.N., D IRECTOR OF THE P ERLMUTTER H EALTH C ENTER AND P ERLMUTTER H YPERBARIC C ENTER ; A UTHOR OF B UILD A B ETTER B RAIN BY K INDERGARTEN , T HE B ETTER B RAIN B OOK , B RAIN R ECOVERY . COM , AND L IFE G UIDE

Although the author points out that many practitioners of conventional medicine still express “outright scorn” for complementary and alternative medicine, times are changing. Medical schools across the land have physicians on their faculty who incorporate alternative therapies into both their practice and teaching. And today’s medical students do indeed want to learn more about complementary medicine for the benefit of their future patients and themselves. It’s quite a different environment from the one Dr. Hoffman found when he attended medical school. His book should help change this environment even further. The large amount of well-organized and well-written information about complementary and alternative medicine should be enormously useful to medical school professors and students alike.
—A LBERT S. K UPERMAN , P H .D., A SSOCIATE D EAN FOR E DUCATIONAL A FFAIRS AT A LBERT E INSTEIN C OLLEGE OF M EDICINE

Imagine melding the best of the conventional and alternative medicine worlds? This book offers practical hints and solutions to make this happen, by improving that seemingly simple, yet quite profound, time-honored essence of the sacred communication between patient and physician.
—K ENNETH B OCK , M.D., P RESIDENT OF THE A MERICAN C OLLEGE FOR THE A DVANCEMENT IN M EDICINE ; C OFOUNDER AND C ODIRECTOR OF THE R HINEBECK H EALTH C ENTER AND THE C ENTER FOR P ROGRESSIVE M EDICINE ; C OAUTHOR OF T HE G ERM S URVIVAL G UIDE , N ATURAL R ELIEF FOR Y OUR C HILD ’ S A STHMA , AND T HE R OAD TO I MMUNITY

As one of the pioneers and leaders in complementary and integrative care, Dr. Hoffman provides us with an insightful guide for getting the best care in today’s increasingly complicated and confusing medical system.
—J ASON T HEODOSAKIS , M.D., F ORMER D IRECTOR AND C LINICAL A SSISTANT P ROFESSOR OF THE P REVENTIVE M EDICINE R ESIDENCY T RAINING P ROGRAM AT THE U NIVERSITY OF A RIZONA C OLLEGE OF M EDICINE ; B EST - SELLING AUTHOR OF T HE A RTHRITIS C URE AND M AXIMIZING THE A RTHRITIS C URE
HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR
The Guide for Patients and Their Physicians Who Want to Reconcile and Use the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine
R ONALD L. H OFFMAN, M.D., WITH S IDNEY S TEVENS
The information contained in this book is based upon the research and personal and professional experiences of the authors. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other healthcare provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should be done under the direction of a healthcare professional.
The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular healthcare protocol but believes the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and authors are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book. Should the reader have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any procedures or preparation mentioned, the authors and the publisher strongly suggest consulting a professional healthcare advisor.
Basic Health Publications, Inc. 28812 Top of the World Drive Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-715-7327 • www.basichealthpub.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hoffman, Ronald L.
How to talk with your doctor : the guide for patients and their physicians who want to reconcile and use the best of conventional and alternative medicine /
Ronald L. Hoffman, with Sidney Stevens.      p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN: 978-1-59120-524-1
 1. Physician and patient. 2. Communication in medicine. 3. Integrative medicine.
I. Stevens, Sidney. II. Title.
R727.3.H579   2011 610.69'6—dc22
2006016608
Copyright © 2006 and 2011 by Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D., and Sidney Stevens
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
In-house Editor: Cheryl Hirsch Typesetting and Book design: Gary A. Rosenberg Cover Design: Mike Stromberg
Printed in the United States of America
10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
P ART O NE What’s Wrong—and Right—with Medicine
1. Why Doctors Act the Way They Do
2. Medicine and Health Care in Flux
3. Creating a New Vision of Medical Practice
P ART T WO Making Knowledgeable Decisions, Getting the Care You Want
4. Getting a Real Physical Exam
5. What to Do When You’re Chronically Ill
6. Heart Disease
7. Cancer
8. Arthritic Diseases
9. Cognitive Problems
10. Dealing with Diseases That Aren’t Diseases
11. Preparing for Surgery and Recovery
Last Words: Where We Are, Where We’re Headed
Resources for Patients
Resources for Physicians
Notes
About the Authors
To my mother, Lina Hoffman, 1922–2005, whose final words to me were “Do the best you can.”
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge the following people and their unique contributions to this book:
Norman Goldfind, my publisher, who nurtured the idea for this book, and who has been a courageous longtime supporter of innovative medical concepts, even long ago at a time when complementary and alternative medicine was considered practically heretical and subversive. This book should serve as a vindication of his progressive views.
Jack Challem, an erudite health writer and researcher, whose inspiration gave life to How to Talk with Your Doctor . I am proud that by dint of writing this book I have been brought into closer association with an individual whose work I have long admired.
Sidney Stevens, who was indispensable to writing this book. Acting as advisor, facilitator, and sounding board, she played the role of enlightened healthcare consumer, patiently helping to clarify my ideas. She was the ideal collaborator, and made the sometimes lonely and grueling process of writing a book fun.
Laurie Cowan, my boon companion, who shares with me the vision of promulgating information that helps people and is indispensable to its realization.
The patients of the Hoffman Center, who for over twenty years have provided me with a living laboratory for applying the concepts in this book.
My dedicated staff at the Hoffman Center, who have supported my efforts to take on extracurricular projects like this book.
Radio listeners of “Health Talk,” whose calls, letters, and e-mails have formed the basis for some of the examples in this book.
My wonderful friends and family, who have supported this project with encouragement and love.
My mentors and colleagues in the field of complementary and alternative medicine, too many to enumerate, whose teachings, personal courage, and collegiality have been an inspiration to me as I practice.
And lastly, to generations of doctors to come, who will face the challenges of integrating high-tech medicine and alternative treatments, and to twenty-first-century patients who are striving to reconcile the advice of health professionals with the latest breakthroughs in complementary and alternative medicine.
Preface to the Second Edition
From my perspective as a doctor of complementary and alternative medicine, it’s been an exciting couple of years. Since the first edition of How to Talk to Your Doctor was published four years ago, the nation has been embroiled in a major healthcare debate. Whatever your place on the political spectrum, it has been generally acknowledged that our current medical system is expensive, unwieldy, and inefficient, and doesn’t reliably meet its goal of better health for all Americans.
The crux of this issue wa