Why It's Important To Keep Your Medical Appointments

I feel fine! Why should I continue with my medical appointments?

Take charge of your health after your heart attack!

You might feel fine now, and you should continue to feel fine. That’s where your pharmacists and doctors come in! Together, we can establish an appropriate and individualised treatment plan that can help you improve and/or maintain your health.

Your treatment plan may consist of:

• Achieving short-term (e.g. managing your symptoms) and long-term goals (e.g. preventing future heart attacks) for your heart condition
• Personalising your prescription to suit your lifestyle, while continuing to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your medications
• Keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in control
• Monitoring for warning signs or symptoms your body may have and teaching you how to manage them
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol to 2-3 standard drinks per week
• A safe way to return to and maintain an appropriate level of physical activity
• Adopting an active lifestyle and a healthy diet

These changes in your life may have left you feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, lack autonomy, or sad. Speak to your pharmacists. Share your concerns with them, and they can work towards a shared goal together. Do include your family and friends so that they may spur you on in your journey towards recovery.

Here are some things you can do at your appointment:

• Catch up with your pharmacist to review how you have been feeling at home
• Performing tests such as blood, urine or physical examinations to ensure the medications work well for you
• Identify and resolve barriers you may have encountered in your health journey
• Discussing various practical tips on adopting positive and sustainable lifestyle changes necessary in your road towards recovery

Hence, it is important not to miss your medical appointments despite feeling okay!

Together, we can further reap the full benefits of your treatment plan and overcome barriers that may come along the way.

Article contributed by Ms Low Peik Ching, Senior Pharmacist (Clinical), National University Hospital; Mr Samuel Ho Shan Wei, Senior Pharmacist (Outpatient), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital; and Ms Laurane Lim Hui Shien, Pharmacist, SingHealth Polyclinics.