Wise Health Consumer

Learn about being a wise health consumer

Everyone has to make health decisions at some time or another. Being a wise health consumer can help you ask the right questions at your doctor appointments or know when you need to go to the emergency room. It can help you form a health and wellness plan that fits your personal values by working with your doctor. People who partner with their doctors tend to be happier with their health care results. Our topics can provide you with the resources you need to become a wise health consumer.

Browse these topics to learn more:

Making the Most of Your Appointment
Better Care at Lower Costs
Understanding Lab Test Results
Interactive Tool: Which Health Screenings Do You Need?

Health Topics
Medical Tests
Make a Wise Decision
Take Action

Advance Directive: What to Include
Alcohol Problems: How to Stop Drinking
Appointment for a New Problem
Avoiding Infections in the Hospital
Better Care at Lower Costs
Buying Online Drugs Safely
Cancer Support: Being an Active Patient
Cancer Support: Coping With Cancer Treatments
Cancer Support: Dealing With Emotions and Fears
Cancer Support: Family, Friends, and Relationships
Care at the End of Life
Caregiver Support: Talking About Advance Care Planning
Caregiver Tips
Caregiving: Overview of Personal Care
Checklist for Evaluating Hospice Programs
Chickenpox: Controlling the Itch
Choosing a Health Care Agent
Choosing a Health Care Provider
Choosing a Hospital
Choosing a Nursing Home
Cirrhosis
Clinical Trials
Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures
Daily Medicine Schedule
Dealing With Medicine Side Effects and Interactions
Decision Points About Surgery
Decision Points About Treatments and Other Health Issues
Decision Points for Medical Tests
Decision Points for Medicines
Decongestants
Diary of Symptoms
Eldercare Mediation
Electronic Medical and Health Records
First Appointment
Fitness: Adding More Activity to Your Life
Fitness: Choosing Activities That Are Right for You
Follow-Up Appointment
Funeral Planning
Getting a Second Opinion
Getting Support When You Have a Chronic Condition
Good-Health Attitude
Grapefruit Juice and Medicines
Grief: Helping Teens With Grief
Health Claims on Food Labels
Health Risks
Health Tracking Forms and Checklists
Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Shop
Healthy Eating: Staying With Your Plan
Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight
High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips
Hospice Care
Hospital Discharge Planning
Hospital Patient Advocates
How to Get Rid of Medicines
Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask
Infertility: Ethical and Legal Concerns
Infertility: Setting Limits on Testing
Infertility: Setting Limits on Treatment
Interactive Tool: Which Health Screenings Do You Need?
Interactive Tools
Keeping Track of Medicines
Knowing Where to Get Medical Care
Living Organ Donation
Living Will
Living With More Than One Health Problem
Long-Term Care Choices
Lowering Your Health Care Costs
Making the Most of Your Appointment
Making Wise Health Decisions
Managing Your Medical Bills
Master List of Medicines
Medical Specialists
Medical Tests: Questions to Ask the Doctor
Medicare Hospice Benefit
Medicare: What You Need to Know
Monitoring Your Medicines in the Hospital
Navigating Your Hospital Stay
Occupational Therapy
Office Ergonomics
Organizing Your Medical Records
Osteopathic Medicine
Outpatient Services
Over-the-Counter Medicine Precautions
Pain Control at the End of Life
Palliative Care
Patient Rights and HIPAA
Pediatric Preparation for Medical Tests
Personal Action Plan
Physician-Assisted Death
Planning to Be an Organ Donor Upon Death
Preparing for Your Hospital Stay
Prevent Medical Errors
Preventing Falls in the Hospital
Questions About Varicose Vein Treatment
Questions to Ask About Your Medicines
Quick Tips: Getting in Shape Without Spending Money
Quick Tips: Taking Medicines Wisely
Reducing Medication Costs
Regular Checkup for a Child
Regular Checkup for a Lifelong Condition
Safe Use of Long-Acting Opioids
Self-Care After a Stroke
Self-Care Supplies
Smart Decisions: Know Your Options
Staying Safe When You Take Several Medicines
Surgery: Questions to Ask the Doctor
Surgery: What to Expect
Taking Medicines as Prescribed
The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
Thumb-Sucking: Helping Your Child Stop
Tips for Finding a Counselor or Therapist
Turning Off Your ICD
Understanding Health Insurance
Understanding Lab Test Results
Using Antibiotics Wisely
Vertigo: Staying Safe When You Have Balance Problems
Vital Signs in Children
What to Do if Your Cardiac Device Is Recalled
Work Closely With Your Doctor
Working With More Than One Doctor
Writing an Advance Directive
Your Child's Health: Using the Emergency Room Wisely
Your Family Medical History
Your Home Health Center
Your Hospital Stay: Your Room and Routine
Your Medicare Yearly Wellness Visit

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test?
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: Should I Have a Hysterectomy?
ACL Injury: Should I Have Knee Surgery?
Advance Care Planning: Should I Receive CPR and Life Support?
Advance Care Planning: Should I Stop Kidney Dialysis?
Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots?
Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?
Alzheimer's Disease: Should I Take Medicines?
Arthritis: Should I Have Hip Replacement Surgery?
Arthritis: Should I Have Knee Replacement Surgery?
Arthritis: Should I Have Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Take an Anticoagulant to Prevent Stroke?
Basal Cell Skin Cancer: Should I Have Surgery?
Breast Cancer Risk: Should I Have a BRCA Gene Test?
Breast Cancer: Should I Have Breast Reconstruction After a Mastectomy?
Breast Cancer: Should I Have Breast-Conserving Surgery or a Mastectomy?
Breast Cancer: What Should I Do if I'm at High Risk?
Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?
Bunions: Should I Have Surgery?
Cataracts: Should I Have Surgery?
Colorectal Cancer: Which Screening Test Should I Have?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have an Angiogram?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have Angioplasty for Stable Angina?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have Bypass Surgery?
Depression: Should I Take an Antidepressant?
Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant?
Diabetes, Type 2: Should I Take Insulin?
Dupuytren's Disease: Should I Have Hand Surgery?
Endometriosis: Should I Have a Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy?
Flu Vaccines: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine?
Gallstones: Should I Have Gallbladder Surgery?
Healthy Aging: Is It Time to Stop Driving?
Heart Failure: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker?
Heart Rhythm Problems: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine?
HPV: Should I Get the Vaccine?
HPV: Should My Child Get the Vaccine?
Hysterectomy: Should I Also Have My Ovaries Removed?
Inguinal Hernia: Should I Have Surgery Now, or Should I Wait?
Insomnia: Should I Take Sleeping Pills?
Kidney Failure: Should I Start Dialysis?
Kidney Failure: What Type of Dialysis Should I Have?
Kidney Failure: When Should I Start Dialysis?
Low Back Pain: Should I Have an MRI?
Low Back Pain: Should I Try Epidural Steroid Shots?
Lumbar Herniated Disc: Should I Have Surgery?
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery?
Lung Cancer: Should I Have Screening?
Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?
Menopause: Should I Use Hormone Therapy (HT)?
Obesity: Should I Have Weight-Loss Surgery?
Obesity: Should I Take Weight-Loss Medicine?
Obesity: Should I Use a Diet Plan to Lose Weight?
Osteoporosis: Should I Have a Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Test?
Osteoporosis: Should I Take Bisphosphonate Medicines?
Ovarian Cancer: Should I Have My Ovaries Removed to Prevent Ovarian Cancer?
Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Should I Have Surgery?
Peripheral Arterial Disease: Should I Have a Procedure or Surgery?
Plantar Fasciitis: Should I Have Surgery for Heel Pain?
Prediabetes: Which Treatment Should I Use to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
Pregnancy: Should I Have Amniocentesis?
Pregnancy: Should I Have an Epidural During Childbirth?
Pregnancy: Should I Have CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling)?
Pregnancy: Should I Try Vaginal Birth After a Past C-Section (VBAC)?
Prostate Cancer Screening: Should I Have a PSA Test?
Prostate Cancer: Should I Choose Active Surveillance?
Prostate Cancer: Should I Have Radiation or Surgery for Localized Prostate Cancer?
Quitting Smoking: Should I Use Medicine?
Rotator Cuff Problems: Should I Have Surgery?
Shingles: Should I Get a Vaccine to Prevent Shingles?
Sinusitis: Should I Have Surgery?
Sleep Apnea: Should I Have a Sleep Study?
Sleep Apnea: Should I Have Surgery?
Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Stroke Prevention: Should I Have a Carotid Artery Procedure?
Tennis Elbow: Should I Have Surgery?
Tonsillitis: Should My Child Have a Tonsillectomy?
Ulcerative Colitis: Should I Have Surgery?
Umbilical Hernia: Should I Have Surgery?
Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?
Uterine Fibroids: Should I Have Surgery?
Uterine Fibroids: Should I Have Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
Uterine Fibroids: Should I Use GnRH-A Therapy?
Varicose Veins: Should I Have a Surgical Procedure?

ACL Injury: Exercises to Do Before Treatment
ADHD: Helping Your Child Get the Most From School
ADHD: Helping Your Child Get Things Done
Aging Well: Making Your Home Fall-Proof
Alcohol Problems: Helping Someone Get Treatment
Allergies in Children: Giving an Epinephrine Shot to a Child
Allergies: Avoiding Indoor Triggers
Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
Allergies: Giving Yourself an Epinephrine Shot
Amblyopia: Wearing an Eye Patch
Anxiety: Stop Negative Thoughts
Arthritis: Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Asthma: Finding Your Triggers
Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers
Asthma: Measuring Peak Flow
Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma
Asthma: Using an Asthma Action Plan
Back Problems: Proper Lifting
Bipolar Disorder: Preventing Manic Episodes
Blood Thinners Other Than Warfarin: Taking Them Safely
Bowel Disease: Caring for Your Ostomy
Bowel Disease: Changing Your Diet
Breastfeeding: Planning Ahead
Breathing Exercises: Using a Manual Incentive Spirometer
Breathing Problems: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
Breathing Problems: Using a Dry Powder Inhaler
Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler
Breathing Problems: Using a Nebulizer
Cancer: Controlling Cancer Pain
Cancer: Controlling Nausea and Vomiting From Chemotherapy
Celiac Disease: Eating a Gluten-Free Diet
Chronic Pain: Using Healthy Thinking
Compression Stockings: How to Use Them
COPD: Avoiding Weight Loss
COPD: Avoiding Your Triggers
COPD: Clearing Your Lungs
COPD: Keeping Your Diet Healthy
COPD: Using Exercise to Feel Better
Coronary Artery Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart
Cystic Fibrosis: Helping Your Child Cough Up Mucus
Dental Care: Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth
Depression: Dealing With Medicine Side Effects
Depression: Helping Someone Get Treatment
Depression: Managing Postpartum Depression
Depression: Stop Negative Thoughts
Depression: Supporting Someone Who Is Depressed
Depression: Taking Antidepressants Safely
Diabetes in Children: Checking Blood Sugar in a Child
Diabetes in Children: Giving Insulin Shots to a Child
Diabetes in Children: Giving Single-Dose Insulin Shots to a Child
Diabetes in Children: Preparing a Care Plan for School
Diabetes in Children: Preventing High Blood Sugar
Diabetes in Children: Treating Low Blood Sugar
Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Diabetes: Coping With Your Feelings About Your Diet
Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar From Insulin or Medicine
Diabetes: Giving Yourself a Single-Dose Insulin Shot
Diabetes: Giving Yourself an Insulin Shot
Diabetes: Living With an Insulin Pump
Diabetes: Preventing High Blood Sugar Emergencies
Diabetes: Taking Care of Your Feet
Diabetes: Using a Plate Format to Plan Meals
Eating Disorders: Stop Negative Thoughts
Eczema: Taking Care of Your Skin
Epilepsy: Taking Your Medicines Properly
Eye Problems: Using Eyedrops and Eye Ointment
Feeding Your Infant
Fitness: Increasing Core Stability
Fitness: Making It a Habit
Fitness: Staying Active When You Have Young Children
Fitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay Active
Fitness: Using a Pedometer, Step Counter, or Wearable Device
Fitness: Walking for Wellness
Foot Problems: Finding the Right Shoes
GERD: Controlling Heartburn by Changing Your Habits
Gestational Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Gestational Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar
Gestational Diabetes: Giving Yourself Insulin Shots
Gout: Changing Your Diet
Grief: Coping With Grief
Grief: Helping Children With Grief
Grief: Helping Older Adults With Grief
Headaches: Managing a Headache
Healthwise Self-Care Checklist: Do I Need to Go to the Doctor?
Healthy Eating: Changing Your Eating Habits
Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet
Healthy Eating: Eating Heart-Healthy Foods
Healthy Eating: Eating Less Sodium
Healthy Eating: Getting Support When Changing Your Eating Habits
Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits
Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat Out
Healthy Eating: Overcoming Barriers to Change
Healthy Eating: Recognizing Your Hunger Signals
Healthy Eating: Starting a Plan for Change
Healthy Eating: Taking Calcium and Vitamin D
Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise
Heart Failure Daily Action Plan
Heart Failure: Activity and Exercise
Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse
Heart Failure: Watching Your Fluids
Heart Health: Walking for a Healthy Heart
Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem
Hepatitis B: How to Avoid Spreading the Virus
High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home
High Blood Pressure: Taking Medicines Properly
High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet
High Cholesterol: Making Lifestyle Changes
HIV: Taking Antiretroviral Medicines
Hypoglycemic Unawareness: Taking Steps to Stay Safe
ICD: Living Well With It
Insomnia: Improving Your Sleep
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Controlling Symptoms With Diet
Kidney Disease: Changing Your Diet
Kidney Stones: Preventing Kidney Stones Through Diet
Low Back Pain: Exercises to Reduce Pain
Low-Salt Diets: Eating Out
Lung Problems: Learning to Breathe Easier
Lymphedema: Managing Lymphedema
Managing Job Stress
Meniscus Tear: Rehabilitation Exercises
Menopause: Managing Hot Flashes
Menstrual Cramps: Relieving Pain
Migraines: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
Neck Exercises
Nutrition While Breastfeeding
Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis
Oxygen Therapy: Using Oxygen at Home
Pacemaker: Living Well With It
Patellar Tracking Disorder: Exercises
Plantar Fasciitis: Exercises
Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Dealing With Morning Sickness
Preventing Choking in Small Children
Preventing Poisoning in Young Children
Psoriasis: Skin, Scalp, and Nail Care
PTSD and Anger
Quitting Smoking: Coping With Cravings and Withdrawal
Quitting Smoking: Dealing With Weight Gain
Quitting Smoking: Getting Support
Quitting Smoking: Helping Someone Quit
Quitting Smoking: Preventing Slips or Relapses
Restless Legs Syndrome: Getting More Sleep
Rotator Cuff Problems: Exercises You Can Do at Home
Seasonal Affective Disorder: Using Light Therapy
Sibling Rivalry: Reducing Conflict and Jealousy
Sjögren's: Caring for Yourself at Home
Skin Cancer: Preventing It and Watching for Early Signs
Sleep Problems: Dealing With Jet Lag
Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well
Sprained Ankle: Rehabilitation Exercises
Sprained Ankle: Using a Compression Wrap
Stop Negative Thoughts: Getting Started With Thought Reframing
Stress Management: Doing Breathing Exercises
Stress Management: Doing Guided Imagery
Stress Management: Doing Meditation
Stress Management: Doing Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress
Stress Management: Managing Your Time
Stress Management: Practicing Yoga to Relax
Stress Management: Relaxing Your Mind and Body
Stroke Recovery: Coping With Eating Problems
Substance Use Disorder: Dealing With Teen Substance Use
Tennis Elbow: Stretches and Strengthening Exercises
Tension Headaches: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
Tube Feeding: Living With a Feeding Tube
Using Telehealth Counseling
Vertigo: Balance Exercises
Vision Problems: Living With Poor Eyesight
Warfarin: Taking Your Medicine Safely
Weight Management: Stop Negative Thoughts
Wrist Care: Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Current as of: October 24, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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