Dr. McGregor, lung specialist and internist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital has been practicing medicine for many years. Here he talks about why so many people have a hard time communicating with their doctors and what patients can do to form better relationships with them.

Q: Why do you think people are so uneasy about going to see a doctor?

A: Many of my patients think that they will walk into a doctor's office healthy and walk out sick. I hear patients walking out of my office saying, "When I came in here I was fine. Now I have high blood pressure and an ulcer." I didn't create these problems for them in my office; I simply tell them what they already have. It's better that they know about these problems now instead of in an emergency room passed out after having a stroke or some other major health problem.

I have a lot of patients who don't want to take medicine at all. It's extremely important for patients to find a doctor who they can talk to, trust to give them good information, and be open and honest with so they are more willing to go see them. By being honest with me, we can explore the reasons why you might not want to take medicine and work together to figure out a treatment.

Q: Is there anything that you think that we can do (or not do) to make us better patients?

A: It is important for patients to give their doctor time to develop a relationship with him or her. Sometimes patients have an attitude and judge a doctor before they meet them. I don't judge my patients before I meet them, so they shouldn't judge me. I think it's important for the doctor and the patient to enter the relationship clean and then grow together.

Q: What else should people know to make them better patients, and healthier people?

A: I think the main thing is to take the time to be responsible for your own health. You should speak up for yourself and make sure that you're getting the best healthcare possible by being open and honest about what you're doing and what you're willing to do as a patient. You then need to find a doctor who respects that and works with you to find the best plan of care.

Read more from Dr. McGregor by clicking the links below:

• His experiences becoming a doctor
• What older patients are doing to stay healthy
• Getting the most out of doctors visits
• Mixing medicine and faith
• Story about patient lowering her blood pressure
• Getting tested for high blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV
• Parents' involvement in children's health
• What he likes best about being a doctor