Five Questions To Ask Your Primary Care Physician At Your Next Appointment

Health & Medical Blog

Sometimes patients don't feel like they got a lot out of their visit to the primary care doctor. The doctor may look you over, acknowledge that everything seems okay, and send you on your way. While no news can be good news, you are paying for this doctor's appointment, so it's only fair that you get as much out of it as possible. One way to get more out of your appointment is by asking questions. Here are five such questions to ask during your next visit.

My parent was diagnosed with ___, what signs should I be looking for?

So many different diseases have a genetic component, from diabetes to heart disease. In many cases, the earlier you detect and begin treating these ailments, the better the outcome will be. At your next doctor's appointment, tell your doctor about any conditions your parents have been diagnosed with, and ask what early symptoms of those diseases you should be watching out for. This way, if you do notice any changes in your body, you will know to contact your doctor rather than just ignore the changes and hope they go away.

How can I do a better job of adopting a certain healthy habit?

Maybe you've been trying to get more sleep, but you've been struggling to fall asleep on time. Or perhaps you've been trying to cut back on red meat, but to no avail. If you've been struggling with making any healthy change, take this opportunity to ask your doctor for some advice. They can let you know what has worked for other patients, or even for themselves. If you have already tried some of the strategies they recommend and have still failed, your doctor can help you figure out why you're having such a hard time making changes and what you can do to get to the bottom of the issue.

Is doing x, y, or z a good idea?

There's so much information on the Internet these days, and not all of it is correct. For any so-called healthy habit, you can find just as many people who praise it as condemn it. The thing is, these people may not be credible sources when it comes to health. Your doctor, on the other hand, is a credible source. If you've made a health change such as cutting out gluten, adopting a HIIT workout routine, or eliminating dairy, and you've seen varying opinions about the change online, getting your doctor's opinion can help you make a more informed decision as to whether or not to continue with the change.

What should I worry about when taking medication X?

Whether you're taking a prescription of an over-the-counter medication, it is important to be aware of side effects and possible interactions. Ask your doctor to tell you a little about each one of these for each medication you use. They might bring up something you did not realize was a side effect of your medication. Or, when you do develop a side effect in the future, you may be more apt to recognize it as a side effect rather than pass it off as just another affect of aging.

What can I do to improve my health?

Your doctor may have a lot of advice for improving your diet, losing weight, and improving your sleep, but he or she won't automatically give you all of that advice unless you ask for it. Asking this question shows your doctor that you want to take your health into your own hands. Most doctors will be more than willing to discuss specific changes you can make if you just ask.

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1 November 2017

introducing your daughter to the gynecologist

Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.