The Smartest Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What to bring up to be a more informed, proactive patient
No matter what you’re there for, a doctor’s office — usually with the smell of disinfectant, the harsh fluorescent lighting, the low-grade anxiety permeating the air — is almost always an unpleasant place to be. And that’s before you even start talking to a doctor. Once you’re in the appointment itself, it can be stressful to keep track of all your medical information. Whether you’re dealing with a serious condition or just trying to stay on top of your health, you’re likely to have questions you want to address.
“It is absolutely appropriate to ask whatever question you need,” says Martha Perry, a pediatrician at University of North Carolina and UNC Children’s Hospital. If a doctor responds unfavorably or doesn’t answer a patient’s question, she adds, that doctor isn’t doing their job. In practice, though, there are a number of reasons someone might be reluctant to ask questions, from self-consciousness to lack of medical knowledge. If you want to be a more informed, proactive patient but aren’t sure how to start, here are some questions to bring to your next appointment.
