Regular doctor visits are crucial for staying healthy. If possible, schedule a visit with a doctor who knows your medical history and can monitor and tailor your health needs. Over time, the doctor will know more and more about you and your lifestyle, and your regular visits won’t feel as overwhelming. To maximize the time with your doctor, we’ve put together a list of questions that will ensure all your needs are met in one visit–so feel free to take notes!

In this post, we’re going to look at five key questions to ask your doctor at your next visit, and in another post, we’ll look at another five:

1. How is my health compared to my peers? Knowing how your weight, blood pressure, and other vitals compared to the averages (for your age) can help create a benchmark for your health. This can help you understand your medical status currently and where you’d like it to be. But remember: the American average may not be ideal for every person; use it only as one tool of many to gauge your personal health. 
2. How are my eating habits? Hiding the truth with your doctor about your eating habits is never a good idea. Your doctor needs a clear picture of your lifestyle in order to make recommendations for improvement. You may be on track with the right quantities and types of foods! If not, an honest conversation is the first step in getting you there. 
3. Is this antibiotic necessary? If you are sick, you’ll do just about anything to start feeling better. Unfortunately, a chronic cough or a lingering flu cannot be treated with an antibiotic. Just like with COVID, these are viral infections, and antibiotics are meant to fight bacteria. But some doctors prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily to ease a patient’s concerns. This can lead to issues with gut health or, even worse, create “superbugs” and are resistant to antibiotics. You may need an antibiotic to fight a bacterial infection, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor if this is the case, and if the prescription is necessary. 
4. What does this medication do? Understanding what any medication does will help you recognize the signs of whether it is working or not. Make sure you fully understand what the goals and side effects of a medication are, so you know what to expect when you start the prescription. Your doctor can’t be with you 24/7, so a better understanding of how your medication works will help you self-monitor. 
5. Is there anything I should avoid? If you are beginning a new treatment, it is vital to understand what you should avoid. Certain foods, vitamins, and other medications can interfere with a new medication’s potency and some side effects could require you to change your daily habits. Not following your doctor’s instructions could throw your treatment off course and even be life-threatening. 

Staying healthy is a bit more complicated than a simple “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” In fact, it is in your best interest to not stay away from your doctor!

Schedule regular visits and take control of your health. Start an open, honest conversion with your doctor by asking these questions. Your doctor wants to help you, and he or she will appreciate your active participation. 

Stay tuned next week for five more crucial questions to ask at your next visit.

For information on in-home care in West Austin for you or a loved one, please call Assisting Hands today at (512) 999-7379.