What Questions to Ask Your Doctor

You may experience anxiety when going to the doctor, which can make remembering what questions to ask your provider difficult. Before talking to your primary care provider (PCP), it’s a good idea to write down the key points you’d like to address to get the most out of your visit.

Read on to learn some questions to ask your doctor depending on your appointment, including annual check-ups, vaccinations, health screenings and medication questions.

7 Questions to Ask Your Doctor During Annual Wellness Visits

Annual wellness visits serve as a preventive health check to assess your overall health and identify potential risk factors. They help keep you on track for long-term wellness and can catch health issues before they become serious.

It’s important to note 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 several questions to ask your PCP during your 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 let your primary care provider know if you’ve noticed any changes in 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 can clue them into other areas that may need review.

2. What is my risk for chronic disease?

A chronic disease is a health condition that doesn’t go away. Examples of chronic diseases include Type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Chronic diseases can have genetic factors, meaning some people may inherit a higher risk for conditions like heart disease, diabetes or certain cancers. However, lifestyle choices like diet, exercise and not smoking play a major role in the development of these diseases. Genetics and lifestyle choices work together to influence chronic disease risk.

In most cases, chronic conditions can be managed but not cured. This is why preventive health care is so crucial in lowering your risk of developing a chronic disease.

3. Do I need to make any lifestyle changes?

Part of preventive care is taking action to avoid future sickness. Ask your doctor if they see potential risk factors you need to work 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 updated immunizations?

While some vaccinations last a lifetime, others need to be routinely updated. Ask your PCP if you’re up to date on your immunizations. If you’ll be traveling to another country, let them know and ask if any recommended vaccinations are required before leaving.

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

5. Am I at a healthy weight?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, almost one in three people in the U.S. are considered overweight, and more than two in five adults are obese. Carrying excess weight on your body can increase your risk for heart disease, sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease and certain cancers.

It’s important to ask your physician what a healthy weight range is for your height and weight. They may refer you to nutrition counseling services to help you reach your goal.

6. What health screenings should I have this year?

A crucial question to ask your doctor is what health screening services they recommend for you. 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.

If your provider recommends additional health screenings, you may need a referral. Check if the provider you follow up with is in-network, then schedule your appointment. During the initial visit, you can ask your specialist how to prepare for the procedure.

7. Can we discuss my test results?

If you have questions to ask your doctor about results from a recent test, now’s the time to ask. You can access important labs and results from previous AdventHealth provider visits through your AdventHealth app.

7 Questions to Ask a Doctor During a Sick Visit

When you’re not feeling well, it’s hard enough to get out of bed, let alone comprehend vital information about your health. But it’s important to ask the right questions during your sick visit so you can feel better.

Here are several questions to ask your doctor to help you understand your symptoms, potential causes and best treatment options:

1. What do I have?

When you’re sick, an important question to ask your doctor is what sickness you have. This may require rapid tests such as strep throat testing or flu testing to confirm. Knowing your condition is the first step on your road to recovery.

2. What tests do I need for a diagnosis?

Sometimes, symptoms are obvious, and you don’t need a test to be diagnosed. However, it’s not always that way. 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. A mild cough can develop into something more severe if not caught early.

That’s why getting an official diagnosis with proper testing is so important. Your health care provider can prescribe medications to help you feel better.

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

Certain ailments are more contagious than others. For example, if you have a highly infectious virus like COVID-19 or the flu, you must quarantine or isolate yourself from others.

During your sick visit, be sure to ask your doctor if you’re contagious so you can take appropriate precautions, such as staying home from work or school, to prevent spreading the illness.

4. 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.

5. When should I be concerned about my symptoms?

Your provider should be able to give you a recovery timeline. If your sickness persists past the projection or worsens, 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 be a more serious issue requiring immediate medical attention.

6. Could my symptoms be related to a chronic disease?

A chronic symptom continues to occur for three months or more. Even if you’ve had a cough for eight weeks, you should inform your doctor, as it may indicate a chronic disease like asthma or COPD.

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

In addition to any medications or treatments you may be prescribed, an important question to ask your doctor is what self-care strategies you can use at home to make the healing process faster. 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 you gargle a mixture of warm water, salt and baking soda to help cleanse the throat of bacteria.
• If you’re suffering from allergies, a humidifier may help with allergies to pet dander or pollen, while a dehumidifier can help with dust mites or mold allergies.
• If you’ve been constipated, try eating prunes, which are a natural laxative that contains fiber and sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has a laxative effect.
• If you have a cold, drink warm liquids like tea with honey, chicken soup or warm apple juice to help with stuffiness and scratchy throats.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Doctor Questions

An open line of communication between you and your doctor is crucial to your overall health and well-being. It’s important to remember that being a proactive patient is a key part of preventive care and knowing what questions to ask your doctor during every visit empowers you to take control of your health.

If you have any questions for your doctor or care team, contact AdventHealth Primary Care+. Your health is our priority.