Good Preventative Care Questions To Ask Your Primary Care Doctor
Your primary care doctor should be your go-to source of health and wellness information. Usually during your visit, they will give you a few tips to help with any ailments or pains you are currently facing. They may also give you some basic advice such as getting more exercising or eating more vegetables. But if you want more specific, preventative care advice from your doctor, it is often wise to ask them questions. Here are a few good questions to ask; the answers your doctor gives should truly help you take better care of yourself.
What would a healthy weight for your height be?
Doctors will often tell you, kindly, if you need to lose weight. But because this is a delicate subject for so many, they may avoid telling you how many pounds they'd really like to see you lose. However, unless you have a history of eating disorders and feel like discussing weight might trigger you, it's not a bad idea to ask your doctor what weight you should be aiming for. The number they give you is more informed than the suggested weight you may find on a chart or a website since your doctor knows you, your health history, and your build. Their answer should give you something to aim for if you are attempting to lose or maintain weight.
Are there any wellness tests that you should schedule?
There are tests for kidney function, breast cancer, high cholesterol, and a whole list of other ailments. Ask your doctor if there are any tests you should schedule in addition to those they have already ordered for you. Sometimes, your doctor may point you towards additional tests that could be useful in determining your risk of disease. The results of those tests could guide you in your lifestyle and health actions over the next few years.
What are some good resources on healthy eating?
It's important to eat healthy foods. You are what you eat, after all. However, there is a lot of bad information about diets and food on the internet. Some of it can perpetuate eating disorders. Other information may be overly restrictive, increasing your risk of nutrient deficiencies. Your doctor can point you towards better resources that they know are reliable and informative. You can read these resources and use them to improve your diet in a science-backed way.
Ask these preventative care questions, and you'll likely get some very helpful information from your doctor. For more information, contact a doctor near you.
Share
