How to Ask Questions on Health
- 1). Write down a list of questions. Start by researching your symptoms. Not only is it important to have information on your ailment for your personal knowledge, but also you must know what you are talking about when you ask your doctor questions. Medical journals or the MERCK medical handbook are useful tools, but the most accessible and simple location to research is an online resource, such as WebMD.
- 2). Schedule an appointment with your doctor. When asked for a reason for the appointment, tell the scheduling technician or nurse that you need a verbal, face-to-face consultation with the doctor. Keep in mind that you are not required to disclose your medical history to anyone but your physician.
- 3). Express your concerns candidly with your doctor. Explain your symptom in detail and discuss your findings. Ask as many questions as you need to. Physicians usually know a great deal about many different medical conditions, though they don't know everything. The process to diagnosis and the ensuing course of treatment is a two-way dialogue with your doctor. If any tests or treatments are suggested, it's okay to ask for details on what the tests/treatments are and why they will be beneficial.
- 4). Research your conversation with your doctor and ask follow-up questions. Once your physician has prescribed tests and/or treatment for an ailment, research what your learned. At times, certain tests, and even treatments, are unnecessary, and may even put you at greater medical risk. Physicians commonly have incentives to prescribe certain name-brand pharmaceuticals, so research what yours has suggested, and question him about your findings.
- 5). Be persistent regarding your condition. Most conditions can be more effectively treated if it is detected and treated within a short period after its symptoms have arisen. It is important to remember is that it is healthier to ask as many questions as you need to than to suffer in silence.
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