5 Questions to Ask Doctors

Taking a trip to the doctor's office can be a very stressful time, knowing 5 questions to ask your doctor during the visit will make it less stressful and more informative. Many patients at the end of the doctor's visit feel as though they have forgotten to ask a question or two to their doctors. Knowing ahead of time what questions to ask will make your appointment more informative.

1. What was my blood pressure? Many times a doctor will just put the blood pressure cuff on and take the numbers down on the chart. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure can be a warning sign for many illnesses and diseases, such as heart disease,strokes, and kidney disease. Having that number handy will help you understand what diseases you might be susceptible to and should be concerned about.
2. What is my height and weight? Asking your doctor what your height and weight is and knowing the answer will help to better understand how big of a risk factor you are for developing such diseases as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. With your height and weight you can successfully determine what your BMI (Body Mass Index) is. The BMI can be used to assess what risk you have for being overweight or obese, which can have various health related complications.
3. Why is this test being ordered? Many times at a doctor's visit a person receives a slip of paper that lists various blood tests or x-rays they must get before the next appointment. Asking the doctor exactly why these tests are being ordered will help you understand exactly why you are under going these tests. This will help you understand exactly what is being done for your health issues or concerns.
4. What is this medication being prescribed for and are there any side effects from them? Asking your doctor during your visit what the medications he or she is prescribing are supposed to help, will make the visit a more efficient one. Many times people are caught off guard with a prescription order, knowing ahead of time that you want to know what you are being prescribed, what the complications are, any possible side effects  from this drug, and how long the doctor plans on keeping you on this prescription will help be more involved with your health care. The answer to these questions will help you understand not only what you are putting into your body but also what the long term plan for your health might be.
5. Can you explain that to me a second time a little clearer? Many patients are afraid of asking the doctor to repeat themselves. These patients are most likely afraid to ask a doctor to further explain a term or diagnosis to them. Many diagnosis have medical terms that are hard to understand, asking your doctor during your visit to re-explain a diagnosis will help a patient be a more hands on and understand what is exactly going on during their doctor's appointment.