A recent survey shows that 52 percent of women routinely lie to their doctors and a quarter didn't think it was a big deal.
But Dr. Michael Weaver says that's a common misconception.
"Something that a doctor would consider important, a patient may not recognize a connection to," he said.
Some of the top lies: I don't smoke, I don't drink, I floss all the time, I've never had an STD, I exercise regularly, I always use sunscreen, I'm monogamous, I'm not taking any other meds.
Many patients say they lie out of fear, embarrassment or because they want approval.
But it's more important to be honest and accurate.
If you smoke, you may not heal as well after surgery.
If you drink, your doctor may not prescribe certain meds.
If you have an STD, delayed treatment can lead to fertility problems or even cervical cancer.
If you don't use sunscreen, your doctor may not perform important screening tests.
And if you don't let him or her know about medications, certain drug interactions can kill you.
Telling the truth erases all these potential dangers.
In a Johns Hopkins study, researchers looked at how often those with breathing problems used an inhaler. 73 percent of patients reported using the inhaler three times a day, but data showed only 15 percent were actually using it that often.
