Asking the right questions during a well visit to your doctor is important for your health and well-being. A good part of the reason you go to the doctor’s office is that you want answers to questions you have about your health. After all, knowing what’s wrong with you can help you get better more quickly. 

When you visit the doctor, there are certain questions you should ask to determine how he or she can best care for your health. These can help avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary testing, as well as provide a more personalised experience. Whether your physician’s advice is sound or not, these questions will help you make an informed decision.

This blog is meant for those who may feel nervous about visiting their primary care physician and want to prepare ahead of time.

Here are essential questions that you must ask your doctor during your well visit

1. How do you feel?

Don’t be afraid to ask about symptoms or what you can do to feel better, even if the answer seems obvious. Doctors often don’t know exactly what’s wrong with patients, so it helps to get a sense of their diagnosis.

2. What are the risks?

 You may not realize that certain medications or conditions can increase your risk of something bad happening, like an accident or a heart attack. It’s also important to know what treatments are available for any medical problems you might develop in the future.

3. What tests do you need?

Doctors may recommend several different types of tests when they see you, such as blood tests or X-rays. Ask the doctor what tests they think are most important for you and why they recommend them. For example, if your doctor thinks a new medicine might help you feel better, ask them if it needs to be taken every day or if there are other ways to take it that might work better for you.

4. How often should you come back?

Some doctors may recommend coming back more often than others. If this happens, ask about the frequency of visits and how long an appointment will last (usually 30 minutes). If a certain test needs to be repeated in a certain amount of time, make sure that you understand exactly how long it will take before bringing up this issue with your doctor again.

5. What are your recommendations for my health?

This question is crucial because it gives you someone else to talk to and helps you understand the doctor’s area of expertise. The doctor might be able to offer you advice on how to manage specific problems you’re having or how to avoid them altogether. 

Your well visit is an important time to ask your doctor questions about your health and ways to improve it. Getting your blood drawn at every yearly physical is also a good practice. Having numbers from when you are feeling good, will give you a baseline for your own body. This way, when you do feel off, you have a comparison.

Good nutritional habits are usually the foundation of healthful living; this includes eating balanced meals that include fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and dairy products.

The most important thing that you can get out of your well visit is a better understanding of your needs are as a patient. It’s a chance for you and your doctor to review what is, and what isn’t, working for you. Ask about treatments available for various ailments, and treatments that have worked for other patients in the past. This isn’t the time to ask about getting a thorough exam—this is the time to craft an action plan based on the current state of your health.