Have you ever exited your physician’s office and realized you forgot to ask half of your questions? Or you didn’t divulge the most important symptoms you were experiencing?

A medical journal can head off such problems. And according to the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.), “A written record of your health history can help prevent many medical errors.”

Suggested journal details:

• Hospitalizations and dates

• Surgeries and dates

• Major illnesses or chronic diseases (date of onset)

• Allergies to medicines/foods and reactions

• Medications (including herbals, supplements and over-the-counter): the doses and frequency

• Blood type

• Immunizations

• Family history of major diseases and ages