Questions to ask your doctor
It is very important to always keep an open line of communication with your doctor. Don’t be afraid to speak to your doctor about any medical issue that may be on your mind.
Make the most of your doctor’s visits by taking the opportunity to ask pertinent questions, your doctor is there to answer and allay your medical concerns.
Questions to ask your new doctor
When you visit a new doctor, you may want to ask a few questions to get to know your doctor and his/her expertise better. The first visit with a new doctor will be aimed at learning about you so that he or she can best treat you. However, make sure to use this opportunity to do the same.
Ask your doctor things like:
- How long have you been a primary care physician?
- Do you encourage me to ask questions and express my opinion?
- Do you take the time to consider my opinion and answer my questions in a way that I can understand?
- Am I able to call you directly in case of emergency?
- How does your office handle emergencies if I cannot get a hold of you?
- Am I able to call or email you with non-emergency questions? If so, how long should I expect to wait for a response?
Yearly check-ups are a necessity to keep up to date on your health and see if you need any medicine, or if any of your dosages need to be increased or reduced.
The National Institute on Aging advises that before having a medical test, you should ask your doctor to explain why it is important, what it will show, and what it will cost.
Also be sure to ask what you need to do to prepare for the test. For example, you may need to have an empty stomach, or you may have to provide a urine or stool sample. Find out how you will be notified of the test results.
Questions you should ask your doctor will be different in every situation. However, once given a diagnosis you may not know how to proceed, the following questions will help you better care for yourself post-diagnosis.
Ask your doctor:
- What is my diagnosis?
- What are my treatment options and their specific benefits?
- What are the side effects of each treatment?
- How can I change my lifestyle in order to make my condition more manageable?
If you have been experiencing any strange or odd symptoms between appointments, write your questions down in order to be prepared and to ensure that you remember them by the time your next check-up comes around.
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