You may be at the doctor for a routine physical, or perhaps you just discovered an ailment that requires surgery. In either case, what questions should you be asking your doctor?

First of all, do not let your surprise or relief concerning any diagnosis stop you from asking your doctor questions. Learn everything possible about your condition. If you don’t have the presence of mind to ask the questions when you see your doctor, call with queries later.

Here are ten questions to ask that will both make your visit to the doctor go more smoothly, and help insure better health down the road.

The first six are suggested by Amy K. Anderson, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for JustANumber.com and WebEd. Dr. Anderson is board-certified in internal medicine and is a practicing physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

1. Are any changes to my current medications necessary? Can I stop taking anything, etc.? “I think it’s good to reassess a patient’s medicine list on a routine basis, but often a doctor just keeps meds going without reevaluating their necessity,” Dr. Anderson said.

2. Are there any illnesses to which I may be predisposed, either due to my lifestyle or for genetic reasons?

3. Are there any vaccines I should receive at my age? “Certain vaccines need to be given in adulthood–tetanus every ten years, pneumovax at age 65, a vaccine for shingles at 60 ,and flu vaccine yearly–and these can sometimes get overlooked at a routine physical” or other examination, Dr. Anderson noted.

4. What are the risks and benefits of (fill in the blank)? “This is useful for just about any procedure, medication, or recommendation that a doctor gives a patient,” Dr. Anderson said. “It’s extremely important that both the doctor and patient are on the same page regarding expected outcomes and possible failures of any treatment offered.”

5. May I have copies of my test/lab results? “This usually requires filling out paperwork to authorize releasing the records, but the more information a patient has about his or her medical history, the easier it will be to seek second opinions or if she needs to move, etc. and get new doctors,” Dr. Anderson explained.

6. Do you commonly treat my illness? “This is especially important for a specialist because they frequently only focus in one specific area, and if they don’t see the particular disease that a patient has on a regular basis, they may not be the ideal doctor for that patient and may refer the patient to another specialist,” according to Dr. Anderson.

Irene O’Neill, MD, of Munster, IN., trained in internal medicine and currently working in occupational medicine, suggested three more questions.

7. If I have to be admitted to the hospital, will you be the one taking care of me? “Some doctors only see their patients in the office and transfer the care of their hospitalized patients to a hospital specialist or ‘hospitalist,’” Dr. O’Neill said.

8. How necessary is that test? “Because we live in such a litigious society, doctors tend to be very thorough in working up problems,” Dr. O’Neill said. “If you don’t have insurance, or have a high deductible, your doctor needs to be aware of this. Be frank with the doctor and let her or him know your insurance and/or financial situation. The doctor usually can prioritize the tests and comfortably rule out serious problems with fewer tests.”

9. Is there a generic medicine available to treat my problem? “With some of the newer drugs costing $5-to-$10 a pill, only people with good insurance can afford them,” Dr. O’Neill said. “Generic does not mean inferior. They are strictly regulated. Because generics have been on the market for such a long time there are no surprises, unlike with some of the newer drugs that are suddenly pulled from the market because of new findings.”

Last, but not least, comes a question from Elaine Fantle Shimberg of Tampa, FL, an award-winning author of 22 books about taking care of your health.

10. If you need surgery, ask your doctor how many procedures of this type the doctor has performed and what were their outcomes?

Dr. O’Neill also advises you to check websites to get more information about your diagnosis.

“There are some preferred websites,” Dr. O’Neill said. “If you are diabetic, the American Diabetic Association is a good place to start. If you have heart disease, you should check out the American Heart Association Web site. If you are seeing a specialist, the physician may be able to steer you to the better sites for your condition. The more you know about your illness, the better choices you will make.

“Ask yourself, ‘What can I do in terms of my lifestyle choices to improve my outcome?’ The more you take charge of your health, the better the outcome. Often, a change in lifestyle is more effective than the medicine the doctor is prescribing,” Dr. O’Neill stated.

If your changes include over-the-counter supplements, do consult with your doctor, Dr. O’Neill advised.

“Not all supplements have been proven to do what they claim,” Dr. O’Neill concluded. “There usually are studies that have attempted to objectively evaluate those claims. Your doctor may be aware of which supplements have been shown to be beneficial, and which have not.”

– Susan S. Stevens

Resources:

• Amy K. Anderson, MD: www.justanumber.com/contributors/
• Elaine Fantle Shimberg:  www.elainesbooks.com
• American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org
• American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org