7 little lies that can harm your health
Not being completely truthful when speaking to your healthcare provider is common—and it can have serious consequences.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
When you speak to a healthcare provider (HCP), it’s important to be direct and honest. Telling them the whole truth about your lifestyle habits, sexual issues, or scary symptoms may feel awkward, but it’s the only way to ensure that you get the care you need.
With that in mind, here are seven small, common lies people tell in an HCPs office—and how these fibs may endanger their health.
Written byMichael Gollust.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excessive Alcohol Use. Page last reviewed July 11 + 12
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data and Statistics. Page last reviewed November 29, 2023.
- Mayo Clinic. Male depression: Understanding the issues. Page last reviewed February 13, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic. Postmenopausal Bleeding. Page last reviewed January 15, 2024.
- Harvard Health. 5 overlooked symptoms that may signal heart trouble. August 8, 2023.
- MedlinePlus. Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Page accessed May 10, 2024.
- Chapekis A, Shah S. “Most Americans now live in a legal marijuana state – and most have at least one dispensary in their county.” Pew Research Center. February 29, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease? Page last reviewed December 21, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. Female Sexual Dysfunction. Page last reviewed December 17, 2022.
- Katsi V, Maragkoudakis S, Ioakeimidis N, et al. The cardiovascular burden of light smoking. Arch Med Sci Atheroscler Dis. 2021 Apr 12;6:e48-e56.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking & Tobacco Use: Health Effects. Page last reviewed April 28, 2020.
- MedlinePlus. Prescription Drug Misuse. Page accessed May 10, 2024.
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