We all know that honesty is the best policy, and it’s no different when it comes to your health. Unfortunately, some people are too embarrassed to share personal information with their doctors — and that can be a deadly mistake.

"Very often, patients hold back or distort important information that can be life-saving because they're afraid of being judged," Dr. Joe Colella, M.D., a Pittsburgh-based physician, tells Newsmax Health.

To help prevent you from falling into this dangerous habit, here are eight examples of information you should always share with your doctor:

1. You're taking supplements. Your doctor needs to know about all your medications, including vitamins and other supplements, to make sure that there are no dangerous interactions between them. Gingko biloba, for example, can cause heart palpitations and dangerously interacts with blood pressure medications.
2. There's blood in your stool or urine. It's understandable: People don't like to talk about bodily functions. But the presence of blood can signal serious illness, says Colella. Blood in the stool is a symptom of colorectal cancer, which is curable if caught early.
3. You saw something on the internet that worries you. "I'm a huge fan of having well-informed patients," says Colella. "It means they are paying attention to their health. Just remember that medical information gathered from the web is general and may not relate to your case."
4. You have poor diet and exercise habits. Colella says most people exaggerate about how much they exercise and downplay their excess eating. "You shouldn't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about your diet because he or she can help, or refer you to a nutritionist." Poor lifestyle habits are linked to many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
5. You are depressed. There should be no stigma about feeling unhappy sometimes, and very often your doctor can help with therapy or short-term medication. Depression can also wreak havoc with your physical health, causing loss of appetite, headaches, or gastrointestinal woes.
6. You stopped taking medication. "Instead of telling the doctor, some patients act on their own," says Colella. "If you do this, you are risking your life." This is especially true for blood pressure drugs, blood thinners, and antidepressants.
7. You’ve lost interest in sex. It’s important to be upfront about your sex life because lack of interest can signal a more serious problem such as vascular disease, an imbalance in blood chemistry, anxiety, or depression.
8. You don't reveal past medical history. Even a surgery that was performed decades ago has a significance, says Colella, who revealed that one patient (not his) lost the wrong kidney when doctors didn't know he'd previously had a transplant. "I tell my patients to write a complete medical history including all surgeries and their location as well as past illnesses and those that run in their families. If you walk in with a written record, there's less chance of error and a greater chance of getting the best treatment," he says.