If you’re like most Americans, odds are you bend the truth a little once you enter the doctor’s office. While it may seem harmless, lying to your doctor can have serious consequences. We all have unhealthy habits, and none of us are perfect, so we don’t expect you to eat healthy all the time and get 90 minutes of exercise each day. It’s perfectly normal to have some flaws, but when you lie to your doctor about your health habits, it only makes it harder for us to provide you with the utmost care. Here’s a look at three subjects people often lie about, and why that can be problematic.

Falsehoods in the Doctor’s Office

Here are three subjects that people often lie or bend the truth about when the topic is broached by the doctor:

1. Their Symptoms – This is especially true for chronic pain patients, but the reasons behind the lies may be different than you expect. For starters, some people with chronic pain overstate their symptoms because they are fed up with failed treatments and hope the doctor will take their concerns more seriously. Unfortunately, sometimes this leads to over-prescribing or giving harmful doses, which can lead to health issues or dependency. On the flip side, many patients don’t want to be defined by their chronic pain, so they play off symptoms like they are no big deal. This too makes it difficult for your physician to give you the best care. Great doctors will believe what you say and won’t judge you for saying them, so be open and honest about everything you’re experiencing.

2. Their Food Choices – As we alluded to above, nobody sticks to the perfect diet each and every day, and that’s fine. However, you need to be honest with your doctor about your dietary choices. Oftentimes the food we eat can affect how our bodies perceive pain. If you eat a lot of junk food or a heaping helping of spicy options, it can lead to inflammation in our joints, which may make pain worse. If your doctor can pinpoint some food choices that may be impacting your pain, this can help you get a better grip on your chronic condition. However, your doctor is not going to be able to help if you don’t open up about your regular diet.

3. Liquid Intake – Fluids are very important if you want to combat your chronic pain, but only the right ones will do the trick. Dehydration can make pain worse, so you want to make sure you’re getting plenty of water throughout the day. Most people are pretty honest about their water intake, but a liquid they often lie about is their alcohol intake. Alcohol may serve to “numb” the pain in the short-term, but it’s damaging other structures and making pain worse in the long run. Whether it’s out of embarrassment or the idea that their doctor may think less of them if they knew the extent of their drinking, many people skirt the truth when talking about alcohol intake. Your doctor isn’t going to judge you – he just wants to help get your condition under control. If you’re grossly underestimating your alcohol intake, your doctor may overlook that as a potential solution, or it could impact the effectiveness of your pain medication.

In the end, just be open and honest. We’re here to help, not to judge anyone for their lifestyle choices.