What questions should I ask my primary care provider during my annual physical?

November 10th, 2013

Everyone should get an annual physical exam from a primary care provider.  Here are ten questions and issues you should be prepared to ask.

• What are the vaccines I need?  Immunizations are not just for children.  Many adults do not realize that they need to get vaccines as an adult.  The Flu vaccine is just one of many.
• What cancer screening is appropriate for my age and risk factors?
• My family medical history has recently changed, and I recently found out a relative has been diagnosed with a disease, how does this change my cancer screening?  Your doctor should ask you about any updates to your family medical history.  For example, if a parent has developed colon cancer you may need to be screened earlier (usually 10 years before the age your relative developed the tumor) than the general population.
• What is my BMI (body mass index)?  The BMI is a number that determines whether you are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.  You may think you look “normal” compared to your friends, but you may actually be overweight.
• What are my total cholesterol, low density cholesterol (LDL or “bad” cholesterol), and high density cholesterol (HDL or “good” cholesterol), what are the cut-offs for these and what can I do to improve the numbers?
• What is my fasting blood sugar?  This is a test that can detect diabetes and early diabetes.
• Is my blood pressure in the pre-hypertension range?  Pre-hypertension readings mean you may develop true hypertension (high blood pressure requiring medications) in a few years.  This would require lifestyle modifications.
• I am taking herbal medications, do you think they will benefit me?  Do they have any side effects?  Do they interact with any of the medications I’m taking?
• If there are abnormalities on the physical exam or labs, when should I follow up to repeat the tests?  Be sure to make a note of this in your calendar or smartphone so that you will not forget.  Many busy medical offices will not routinely send reminders to patients.  It is important to keep track of your own health.
• Is there a cheaper, generic version of the medications I am taking?  Many generic medications work just as well as the brand name counterparts.  You could save hundreds of dollars per year by switching to one of these.  You may also want to do research yourself by looking at your insurance plan’s formulary.  This is a list of medications that your insurance company “prefers” and these generally cost much less or have lower co-pays than other medications.