don’t always keep up with the latest medical science. However, older doctors who stay
abreast of new developments and treat a lot of patients in their field of expertise perform just as well as younger ones.
do in our lives where we make trade- offs, we make decisions,” he says. And there are questions we ask ourselves that are hard to answer: How serious is something? Do I need to call my doctor? Do I need to go to the emergency room immediately? When there are
traffic-blocking events in your area, it pays to be aware of these and take steps to overcome the challenge, rather than having a wait-and-see attitude. “If you have chest discomfort, get help immediately,” advises Jena. “Most of the time it’s not going to be significant, but once in a while, there’s a chance that it is.”
YOUR AGE MATTERS Medical guidelines recommend doing — or not doing — certain tests and procedures at specific ages. For example, tests for heart
problems are done more often at age 40 and later, while some treatments are not recommended after age 70 or 80. Studies show that doctors are likely
to randomly stick to these numbers, but this doesn’t always benefit patients. For example, patients who will
turn 40 in a few weeks may not be offered tests that could identify important problems, because doctors consider them “in their 30s.” Two patients around age 70 may be treated quite differently because
Medical guidelines recommend
certain tests and procedures at
specific ages. . . But your health status doesn’t
suddenly change when you enter a new decade of life.
their birthdays are a few months apart, even though they have the same health conditions. One who is nearly 70 may be offered needed heart surgery while the same surgery is ruled out for another who celebrated a 70th birthday a month ago. In research, this is
called “left-digit bias,” meaning doctors tend to classify your age by the left digit, especially in an emergency room where you’re seeing an unfamiliar doctor. But your health status
doesn’t suddenly change when you enter a new decade of life. You can ask if a recommendation would differ if you were a few months or a year or so younger or older.
DOCTOR’S AGE The age of a doctor is another random factor, but you can get better care by understanding how age does, and doesn’t, influence the quality of care. Surgeons generally improve
with age. Their experience enables them to anticipate and be prepared for challenging situations during surgeries, and they develop muscle memory that improves their technique. Among other doctors, age is not
always an advantage. Younger doctors tend to get better results because they are more recently trained and up to date on the newest treatments. Older doctors may treat fewer patients and
IS THIS TREATMENT RIGHT? There are different options for treating many common conditions, such as knee, hip, or back pain. A doctor’s recommendation may
make total sense to you. However, says Jena, “if the recommendation doesn’t quite sit right with you, I think you want to know and really understand why it is that they are recommending what they are recommending.” This, he says, is a question you can
ask: What is it about me that makes you think that I should get it, or not get it? “By asking the doctor to spell out the
reasoning, it can help to prevent errors and get the best recommendation for you,” explains Jena.
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES You can’t choose your doctor in an emergency room, but you can help that practitioner to make a correct diagnosis by providing complete information about the medications you take, surgeries or hospitalizations you’ve had for the same or a similar condition, and any other medical problems you have. “It’s really helpful to have a family
member there with a notebook or a printout,” says Jena. And that person can take notes for any needed follow-up. Health plans generally have online
portals where test results, treatment, recommendations, and the doctor’s notes are recorded and can be viewed by the patient. Use these, says Jena, and if you see that something is omitted or not correctly conveyed in the notes, tell your doctor. When it comes to your healthcare,
he adds, “Be as engaged in the care as you can.”
JUNE 2024 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 87
CLIPBOARD/ALCINDO D. PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK
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