Questions to Ask My Provider

We encourage you get the most out of your visit by asking questions. If you are not sure what to ask, use these suggested questions to ask your doctor. These questions may or may not relate to you, depending upon the disease or condition. Record the questions you would like to ask and bring the list with you to our visit.

General Health Questions

• How is my current diet affecting my overall health?
• How is my exercise routine affecting my overall health?
• What are some changes I can make in diet or exercise to improve my health?
• How does my current stress level affect my overall health?
• What can I do to prevent this from happening again?
• Is my weight within the healthy range?
• Are the medications I’m taking still relevant?
• Considering my age and gender, do you recommend any annual screenings?
• Considering my family history, am I at risk for certain diseases?
• Is my blood pressure in the healthy range?

Questions about Your Symptoms or Diagnosis

• What is my diagnosis?
o How serious is it and how will it affect my daily life?
o What is the short-term and long-term prognosis?
o What caused it?
o Where can I find more information about my diagnosis? 

• Is there more than one disease or condition that could be causing my symptoms?
o Should I be tested for a certain disease or condition?
o What symptoms should I watch for?

• How can I be tested for a disease or condition, and what will these tests tell me?
o What tests will be involved in diagnosing my disease or condition?
o How safe and accurate are the tests?
o When will I know the test’s results?
o Will I need more medical tests?

• Do I need to take precautions to avoid infecting others?

• How is the disease or condition treated?
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• What should I work on before my next visit?

​Questions about Your Treatment

• What are my treatment options?
o How long will the treatment take?
o What is the cost of the treatment?
o Will my job or lifestyle be affected?
o With treatment, what is my prognosis?

• Which treatment is the most common for my disease or condition?
o What side effects are there?
o What should I do if I have side effects?
o What risks and benefits are associated with the treatment?
o Is there anything I should avoid during treatment?

• What would happen if I didn’t have treatment or delay my treatment?
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• What tools are available to help me manage my disease or condition?

• Do I need a medication?
o What would I do if I miss a dose of medication?
o Are there any side effects?
o Is this medication safe to take with my current medications?

Questions about Medications

• Why do I need this medication?
• Has any medication been added, stopped or changed? Why?
• What medication(s) should I continue taking? Why?
• How long should I take my medication(s)?
• How will I know if my medication is working?
• What side effects are there?
o How can I manage my side effects?
• Will I need any tests or bloodwork while using this medication?

​Questions about Surgery

• Why do I need surgery?

• What surgery are you recommending?
o How much will surgery cost?
o What are the benefits of having surgery?
o What are the risks of having surgery?
o What kind of anesthesia will I need?
o How long will I be in the hospital?
o How long will it take me to recover?

• What could happen if I don’t have this surgery?
o Where can I get a second opinion?

• Are there alternatives to surgery?
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• Who will be performing my surgery and where?

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