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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.
- 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: 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
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.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
NOTICE: This health information was not created by Columbia University Irving Medical Center and may not necessarily reflect specific CUIMC practices. For medical advice to your personal condition, please consult your doctor. Medical advice disclaimer.