Be sure to write down questions for your doctor before the visit, either on paper or on your phone. “It’s easy in the moment to forget something that has been bothering you for a while or a follow-up question you meant to ask; that’s being human,” says Libbat-Tzion Shaham, MD, a New York City-based, board-certified family physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan.
By prepping questions in advance, you’ll be more likely to feel the appointment checked all the boxes for you. “It helps to make sure that after the visit, a patient feels that everything they were wanting addressed has been taken care of,” says Cynthia Odogwu, MD, a board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician based in Bowie, Maryland.
Here are eight questions that doctors say you should be asking at your next appointment with your primary care physician, general practitioner, or family doctor to get more out of the visit. (Many of these can also be useful to ask specialists you see regularly to help manage a chronic condition.)
1. What Proactive Wellness Tests Can I or Should I Be Taking Right Now?
Your annual physical is a great time to make sure your health is in order, starting with screenings and tests. Your doctor may order some blood work as part of your annual visit. Ask if you’re due for any other routine screenings, and check if you need any follow-up tests for specific health conditions. Examples include regular blood tests to check blood sugar or cholesterol levels, as well as age-based screenings for colorectal cancer or osteoporosis.
“This is a helpful question to ask your doctor at your annual exam, especially if you feel that some of the routine health maintenance items were not really addressed,” Dr. Shaham says. Consider asking: “What else might be needed for me?”
Bringing up the question helps your doctor recommend the best tests for you based on your individual health needs. “A lot of screening tests are based on age, while others are based on risk factors,” Dr. Odogwu says. “Asking this will prompt a doctor to review which tests apply to the patient in front of them.”
2. How Can I Improve My Health Through Diet and Exercise or Other Lifestyle Changes?
Shaham says that asking this question makes it likely that your doctor will tailor their advice to you specifically: “This signals to the doctor that you’re interested in creating a foundation for health and are open to advice.” It also invites your doctor to create a plan with you right then and there, Odogwu says.
3. How Does My Family History Affect My Health?
Your doctor can also tell you which parts of your family’s health history you need to be aware of. “Some family health items might be more or less of a concern to your doctor than to you, so it’s good to get a professional perspective on what you should focus on,” Shaham says.
4. What Should I Do When I Have Pain or Discomfort?
“If you don’t know how much pain medication to use or when or how else to treat pain, and you have a frequent painful issue, it’s very valuable to ask this question,” Shaham says.
“In my experience, it’s common to under- or overestimate medication dosages or not know how long to treat pain and when to seek further evaluation,” Shaham says. Asking this question at your appointment helps clear up confusion and puts you in a position to know what to do and what level of care to get if symptoms develop, Odogwu says.
5. What Do You Think Is Causing My Problem?
It can be easy to get wrapped up in how to treat symptoms, but it’s also helpful to address where the issue is coming from in the first place. “This question asks the doctor to sum up their assessment of your issue,” Shaham says.
Don’t be afraid to speak up about what you think is at the root of your issue. “As the patient, only you have your issue 24/7, and we rely on you to provide this information to help us better evaluate you,” Shaham says.
Plus, having your doctor address this question will likely leave you feeling better once you walk out the door. “It helps put a patient’s mind at ease, because they have a reason for the issue,” Odogwu says.
6. I Did Not Understand That Word or Explanation — Can You Explain That Again?
Your visit with your doctor will do you little good if you’re feeling confused by any words or topics that the doctor covers. Make sure you fully understand what they say, and if you don’t, say so.
“Be brave and ask the questions,” Shaham says. “Your doctor will be grateful you asked the clarifying question, because it helps you get better treatment.” And if they brush you off or treat you disrespectfully, take it as a sign to go elsewhere for healthcare, Shaham says.
Asking this question — multiple times during one appointment if needed — ensures that you leave the visit with a full understanding of what you and the doctor discussed, Odogwu says.
7. Should I Make Any Changes to My Medications, Supplements, or Lifestyle?
Asking this question helps ensure that your doctor reviews the medications and supplements you’re taking, and makes sure they’re appropriate for you. “It is a good idea to make sure that both patient and doctor are on the same page regarding all medications and supplements,” Odogwu says.
Don’t forget to list all your supplements. Supplements may not seem worth mentioning, since they can be purchased over the counter. But some supplements can affect other medications and supplements, making them less effective in some instances or raising your risk of having a dangerous reaction. Share your dosage and how often you take it, too, to ensure you’re not taking too much.
8. Am I Up to Date on My Vaccines?
Vaccines aren’t just something you get as a child and can forget about later in life. “Vaccines play an important role in disease prevention, so it is important to make sure that one is up to date,” Odogwu says.
Your doctor can help make sure you’re up to date with your vaccines. Keep track of any that you get outside of your doctor’s office, such as at a local pharmacy or during a hospital stay. “That information doesn’t always carry over to the doctor’s office, so it is important to make sure that the information in the clinic is up to date,” Odogwu says.
The Takeaway
- Prepare a list of questions for every doctor appointment to ensure your questions and concerns get addressed, and you understand what the doctor says about your health and your next steps.
- Important topics to discuss include checking whether you’re up to date on vaccines, reviewing your current medications and supplements, and understanding the implications of your family health history.
- Include questions about lifestyle changes, diet and exercise improvements, and address any persistent pain or discomfort. This helps you stay proactive so you can manage your health effectively.