Page 30 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

DOCTOR’S ADVICE MOST

OFTEN IGNORED BY PATIENTS

Why people don’t listen, and why they should.

By Kerry Hendershot, M.D.
Covenant Medical Group
continually encourage my patients They tend to be set in their ways and
and remind them of the importance can have a hard time committing to
of prevention. Preventative health changing their habits. I understand
care may seem like commonsense; how they feel, and I develop rapport
however, most people need a gentle to help them move forward.
If you diligently heed your doctor’s reminder from a trusted doctor.
advice, you may be surprised to learn Q. Obesity has become a serious
you’re in the minority. According to Q: Why is it still difficult to convince health problem for many Americans.
CNN, patient noncompliance is an smokers to quit after years of Are patients taking your diet and
epidemic. It is estimated that 20 to 30 outreach? exercise recommendations seriously?
% of short-term therapies, 50 to 60 %
of long-term medications, and 70 to A: Nicotine is notoriously addictive. A. I’d say there are mixed results.
80 % of lifestyle advice goes ignored. Fortunately, I have seen a marked Again, there often has to be a
More than 50 % of prescriptions decrease in patients with nicotine motivational factor such as poor
written each year are either taken addiction thanks to the stop-smoking health or diagnosis of a related health
incorrectly or not at all.
movement. When I do see patients problem. The truth is, many people
who want to quit, I advise them do not have the necessary motivation
Kerry Hendershot, M.D., a board- about a variety of therapies, methods to lose weight; they have to be willing
certified family medicine physician and medications that may be right and committed to changing their
with Covenant Medical Group, for them. One of the more effective, lifestyle. Patient education on my part
shares insights drawn from his years motivational-based ways I’ve seen can help provide that motivation.
of practice as to why patients often that helps people quit smoking is a I counsel every patient who has an
ignore or don’t follow their doctor’s reward system. There are even phone elevated BMI (body mass index) on
advice.
apps that can help track the number how to eat a more balanced, healthy
of smoke-free days and money you’ve diet. I recommend eating a variety of
Q. Are there certain types of saved. The reward is using the money fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole
conditions where people have more to buy yourself something nice. grains and limited snacks. Here
difficulty following their doctor’s It’s important to realize that smoking in Texas, we also place particular
advice?
cessation has a strong psychological emphasis on portion control because
component, and that is the reason why we are a culture that likes Texas-size
A: Health issues that don’t present many people do not follow through on portions that fill our plate from edge
immediate, visible threats to the medical advice or treatment. Unless to edge.
patient’s health are often easy to the person is committed to changing
ignore. I tell patients every day to their lifestyle, they will not be able to As for exercise, I recommend 150
maintain a healthy weight, eat right quit. minutes per week. Patients can
and exercise to reduce their risk of break that up however they want
heart disease. But even with people It is especially troubling to see young across seven days. Some people feel
who are visibly obese, it’s something people, like those ages 14 to 18, who intimidated by the gym. However,
they often don’t address until the are addicted to cigarettes, despite all exercise can be done anywhere, and
symptoms—like high blood pressure the smoking laws. But, if I can get a a little cardio goes a long way. I
and high cholesterol—show up. young person to quit smoking before recommend movement that can be
People have a tendency to put things they are 21, the likelihood of them anything from a brisk walk, jog, hike
off until they can’t ignore them returning to smoking is significantly or swim a few times a week.
anymore, even when it affects their diminished. Older and middle-aged
health. A big part of my job is to
people are the hardest to convince.

30 Lubbock Senior Link