3 Questions You Should Be Prepared To Ask Your Doctor

Posted on: 1 September 2015

Everyone wants good health care. It is frustrating to go to the doctor without having a good experience. However, what many people don't realize is that the quality of care that they get depends a lot on what kinds of questions they ask during the appointment. Here are a few questions you should be prepared with for your doctor's appointment.

What Kind Of Tests Did You Run To Determine This Diagnosis?

If you go to the doctor for some sort of problem that you are having they have a responsibility to discover the problem. Many times the doctor will just do a simple physical exam and then determine the problem for something that they might believe is a simple infection or virus. However, this is not conclusive. If you are worried about getting the right diagnosis, you should ask about what kinds of test they can run to give conclusive results.

For example, you should ask for blood tests, infection cultures, X-rays, MRI's, CT-Scans and anything else that you might think may be relevant. Don't just assume that the doctor has a conclusive result. If you don't feel comfortable, ask for more tests.

What Should I Expect With This Medication? Are There Any Other Options?

Another important thing is to know what you are putting into your body when it comes to medication. Some doctors have relationships with certain pharmaceutical companies, so they tend to prescribe certain medications over others. This isn't a bad thing, but if you are not pleased with your current medication, ask for more options.

You should know what kind of side effects to expect, how often you should take it, warning signs and much more. You can also ask if there are generic and cheaper options if money is a concern. By having the doctor explain why they chose this particular medication, you can be more confident that it is the right medication for you.

What Changes Do I Need To Make To Improve My Health?

Medication is just one part of the equation when it comes to personal health. In order to get the best results possible, you need to know what you can do to get yourself healthier. Your doctor may recommend diet changes, a climate change, job change and so forth. Although you ultimately have the choice of whether or not you will make these changes, it is important to know how your lifestyle affects you illness.

By asking these questions you can be sure that you are getting the best care possible. If you're looking for a physician near you, visit Burnsville Family Physicians​.

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