Questions to Ask Your Doctor by Appointment Type

It’s common to experience stress or feelings of anxiousness during a doctor’s visit, which can make remembering important health updates and questions to ask your doctor more difficult. Before talking to your primary care provider, it’s a good idea to write down the key points you’d like to address so you can get the most out of your time.

Keep reading for helpful questions to ask your doctor at your next sick visit or annual wellness appointment.

7 Questions to Ask Your Doctor During Your Annual Wellness Visit

Your annual wellness visit is a preventive health check that assesses your overall health and identifies potential risk factors early. These visits help keep you on track for long-term wellness and can catch health issues before they become serious.

Keep in mind that this is not the same as an annual physical. If additional items are addressed or tests run in addition to your wellness exam services, you may be billed for a separate office visit.

Here are a few questions to ask your primary care provider during an annual wellness check:

1. Do you notice any concerning changes in my health since my last visit?

Your annual wellness visit is the perfect time to discuss any changes to your health over the last year. While your doctor will suggest various tests like bloodwork or colonoscopies, letting your doctor know about any new issues or changes in your health that you’ve noticed can clue them into other areas they may need to review.

2. What is my risk for chronic disease?

Chronic diseases can have genetic factors, meaning some people may inherit a higher risk of developing conditions like heart disease, diabetes or certain cancers. However, lifestyle choices — such as diet, exercise and avoiding smoking — also play a major role in whether these diseases develop. Genetics and lifestyle influence your chronic disease risk.

In most cases, chronic conditions can be managed but cannot be cured. This makes preventive care crucial to lowering the risk of developing a chronic disease.

3. Do I need to make any lifestyle adjustments?

Part of preventive care is taking action to avoid future ailments. Ask your doctor if they see potential risk factors you can improve on. Depending on their feedback, it may be time to sign up for a gym membership, eat more fiber or schedule additional health screening services.

Learn more about the recommended health screenings by age and gender.

4. Do I need any updates on my immunizations?

While some vaccinations last a lifetime, others need to be routinely updated. Ask your primary care provider whether you’re up to date on your immunizations. If you’ll be traveling to a foreign country, let them know and ask if there are any recommended or required vaccinations before you travel.

Depending on your age, you may need different types of vaccinations. For example, the shingles vaccine is recommended for older adults ages 50 and older, while the chickenpox vaccine can be given to people ages 43 or younger.

5. Am I at a healthy weight?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, almost 1 in 3 people in the United States are considered overweight, and more than 2 in 5 adults are obese. Carrying excess weight on your body can heighten your risk for heart disease, sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease and certain cancers. Your physician can offer you guidance on a healthy weight range and refer you to nutrition counseling services to help you reach that goal.

6. What health screenings should I have done this year?

Health screenings, such as cancer screenings, eye exams, urinalysis and Pap smears, play a vital role in preventive care. However, the screenings you need depend on your health status, family history, gender and age, among other qualifiers. It’s important to note that if your provider recommends additional health screenings, you may need a referral.

7. Can we discuss my test results?

If you have questions for your doctor about recent test results, an annual wellness visit is a great time to ask. You can access important labs and results from previous AdventHealth provider visits through your AdventHealth app.

5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor During a Sick Visit

When you're not feeling well, it's tough enough to get out of bed, and making time to visit your doctor may not be your highest priority. But it’s important to ask the right questions during your sick visit so you can feel better faster.

Here are a few questions to ask your doctor that can help you understand your symptoms, potential causes and the best treatment options:

1. What tests do I need for a diagnosis?

Sometimes, symptoms are obvious, and you won’t need any testing to diagnose your illness. However, things aren’t always so obvious, and you may require rapid tests, such as strep throat or flu testing, to confirm your diagnosis.

Some common illnesses, like the cold, can share symptoms with more serious conditions, such as pneumonia, making it difficult to tell them apart without proper testing. If not caught early, what seems like a mild cough can develop into something more severe, so getting an official diagnosis is important. Your health care provider will then be able to prescribe medications to help you feel better faster.

2. Am I contagious, and do I need to isolate?

Certain ailments are more contagious than others. For example, if you have a highly infectious illness like COVID-19 or the flu, follow your health care provider’s guidance on separating yourself from others temporarily. During your sick visit, ask your doctor whether you’re contagious so you can take appropriate precautions, such as starting antibiotics or staying home from work or school, to prevent spreading the illness.

You should also ask your doctor about an estimated timeline for when you’ll no longer be contagious and can return to normal activities.

3. When should I start to feel better?

The answer to this question will vary depending on your overall health, how long you've been sick and the type of illness you're experiencing. Once your doctor delivers your diagnosis, they should be able to propose an estimated recovery timeline.

4. When should I be concerned about my symptoms?

Your provider should be able to give you a recovery timeline. If your sickness persists long past the projection, or if your symptoms worsen, you should contact your doctor. For example, a cough that goes away after a few days is likely not something to worry about. However, if you have a persistent cough that gets worse, consistently returns every few weeks, or includes shortness of breath or chest pain, it could potentially be a more serious issue that requires further medical attention.

5. What can I do at home to alleviate my symptoms?

In addition to any medications or treatments you may be prescribed, you can ask your doctor what self-care strategies you can use at home to support your healing process. For example, they may suggest trying one of the following natural home remedies to help reduce your symptoms:

• If you have strep throat, your doctor may suggest gargling with a mixture of warm water, salt and baking soda, which can help cleanse the throat of bacteria.
• If you’re dealing with allergies, a humidifier may help with allergies to pet dander or pollen, while a dehumidifier can help with allergies to dust mites or mold.
• If you’ve been constipated, prunes are a natural laxative that contains fiber and sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has a laxative effect.
• If you’ve got a cold, drinking warm liquids like tea with honey, chicken soup, or warm apple juice can help with stuffiness and scratchy throats.

No matter your symptoms, your primary care provider can offer simple suggestions to support your health and well-being.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Doctor Questions

An open line of communication between you and your doctor is crucial to your health. Remember, being a proactive patient is a key part of preventive care, and knowing what questions to ask your doctor during each visit empowers you to take control of your health.

If you need a primary care provider, schedule an appointment today at an AdventHealth Primary Care+ near you.