Patient question
When seeing a doctor for arrhythmia, I'm afraid of being blamed and dare not mention my drinking. How can I provide useful information?
Answer reviewed by Xu ShaoPeng, Chief Physician
Professional answer
You can say directly: "I'm worried about being judged, but I want to give accurate information about my drinking." Try to clearly state the type of drink, approximate amount per occasion, frequency, and any recent changes. If you don't know the alcohol content, you can provide the packaging information. If drinking and symptoms occur close together in time, you can note that too, but don't assume a cause-and-effect relationship on your own.