What Information Should I Give My Doctor That Will Help Them Diagnose and Treat Me?

A Keck Medicine of USC vascular surgeon explains why you should be honest when discussing your health with your doctor.

Sukgu M. Han, MD, MS, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon with the USC Cardiac and Vascular Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC. He is chief of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy and co-director of the USC George and Meryl Young Aortic Center. He discusses why it’s important to be transparent with your doctor. 

Having been a patient myself, I know there may be a tendency to want to minimize the risk factors you consider you are responsible for. For example, you have a history of smoking and struggle with smoking cessation. Similarly, patients associate high blood pressure and high cholesterol with bad lifestyle choices. These are the factors you might minimize in front of your doctor. 

However, being transparent about all those things can impact your risk of having an underlying vascular disease, which is most often asymptomatic. It’s much better if you get properly diagnosed early on and work on managing them. 

My advice to patients is to be open and honest with their primary care physician about their lifestyle and health habits. The more accurate the information you provide, the better your physician can assess your overall health and identify any potential risk factors for vascular disease. Early recognition allows us to intervene sooner, often before symptoms develop, leading to better outcomes and more opportunities for prevention. 

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Sukgu M. Han, MD, MS

Sukgu M. Han, MD, MS, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon with the USC Cardiac and Vascular Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC.

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