Personalized Medicine is a Two Way Street

I recently had a “conversation” with someone I know about a medication he was taking for a sinus infection.  I put conversation in quotes because this person, a fairly well educated individual, had no idea what medication he was prescribed and was taking it blindly.  I know I am the opposite end of the spectrum and am the girl that reads every word of the medication package insert, but still.  To not even know the name of the medication you are taking is, dare I say, irresponsible.  And yet we wonder why physicians prescribe medications that interact with others causing potentially harmful adverse drug-drug interactions when there are individuals walking around that have no idea what pills they are popping.  How could a doctor know medication A might interact with medication B if the patient can’t even tell you they are taking medication B?

I hear this a lot from people I meet—“The doctor knows best so I’m just going to take what she gives me or do what she says”.  Yes, our medical professionals are the experts, but no one is exempt from making mistakes.  And who better to take charge of our own health than ourselves?  It is naïve to think that the future of health care should be left in the hands of people that see us just a few times a year, if that.  As the medicine paradigm shifts towards being more personalized, we the consumer need to recognize that this is a two way street.  As health care providers tailor tests, medications, and treatments to our own individual unique genetic makeups, we as the patient need to also tailor our own view on healthcare and take steps to personalize our experiences as well.  This is different than Google-ing symptoms and making self-diagnostic predictions about what disease you might have.  But it does mean being responsible for your own health and wellness and knowing your body.  Know why your physician is prescribing you a medication and what it is treating.  Know why your doctor is ordering a test and what it will tell her.  Keep records of your health history and make note of anything out of the ordinary.  This information can be not only useful to yourself, but also to any health care providers you may see in the future and can help them personalize your care.  Being responsible for your own well being is the best step you can take towards living a healthier life.