Moving house? Going overseas for a year? Taking a new job interstate? It’s exciting to start afresh, begin again somewhere new, however… when it comes to your health you will be at a disadvantage if you don’t have some record of where you’ve been. Some sort of health passport as it were.
Here are 10 facts you should take with you into the great unknown…
- Name, strength and how often you take regular medications
And not the brand name – put the generic name (that’s the usually unpronounceable name in small print) into your phone for reference. It’s a GP’s nightmare to have a patient visiting from interstate just wanting a script for their ‘little white ones’.
- Know what you’re allergic to
Not ‘some antibiotic gave me hives’ – get specific. It’s important
- Know what operations you’ve had and when
Especially important if you are older – pacemakers don’t do well in MRI machines. But for your younger people too – it’s unlikely to be appendicitis if you’ve already had it removed!
- Know what you’ve been vaccinated against (and when)
Especially for those vaccines that aren’t on the usual childhood immunisation schedule such as Hepatitis B in older people, typhoid and even your last tetanus shot.
- Any underlying chronic conditions?
Think conditions such as asthma, psoriasis, epilepsy. Even if you haven’t had a flare-up in years, you need to have an idea about the history of any of these particularly if you were severely affected. Details need to include a history of hospitalisations, treatments, triggers and complications.
- Previous tests
If possible try to get a copy of the results of your last blood test and any xrays. These act as a baseline so that you can compare future tests.
- In addition to the previous tip you should really know your blood group
In particular women should really know if they are Rhesus negative. This becomes important if an Rh negative woman has a miscarriage or a termination, the fetal blood could mix with theirs. They could develop antibodies to future pregnancies, which won’t happen if given anti-D but you need to know if you’re at risk.
- Significant family history
You need to know if all your father’s brother had a heart attack in their 40s or your maternal aunts had breast cancer in their 30s.
- Know your health insurer and know what is covered
Especially important if you’re travelling overseas. If you travel to third world countries or the USA without travelers health insurance you’re crazy.
- Know the name and contact details of your previous GP
And any specialists that were responsible for your care. If there’s any doubt about what you’ve had or what you’ve tried you can always ring.