Seven Key Questions to Ask Your Primary Care Provider

Visiting your primary care provider is more than just an appointment to check vitals. It’s an opportunity to refocus your health goals and learn how you can continue making the best decisions for your well-being.  

Here are some questions you should ask your primary care provider to help you improve your health.  

How can I maintain a healthier diet?  

“Diet” can be a restrictive word that causes people to overthink their eating habits. Healthy eating comes down to finding balance and making meals that support your everyday life and health goals.  

If you’re looking for guidance, try keeping a food diary in the weeks leading up to your next primary care appointment. When you meet with your provider, bring any nutrition-related questions you may have.  

If you need help with daily nutrition or chronic condition management, they can help or connect you with a nutritionist for more specialized support.  

What preventive screenings do I need at my age?

Age brings wisdom and experience—it also means paying more attention to your personal health. During your regular primary care visits, ask which preventive screenings are needed at your age. 
Screenings help you prevent or stay ahead of future health problems by treating them early. 

The tests your provider orders depend on:  

• Age
• Sex
• Personal health history
• Family medical history
• Lifestyle factors

Preventive screenings can be as simple as checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, or hearing, or they can involve a referral to a specialist to test for certain cancers or chronic conditions. No matter what you need, your provider will explain the when, what, and why behind any examination, so you feel comfortable when the time comes.  

Which vaccinations do I or my child need?

Vaccinations are critical to protecting you, your family, and your community when you enter the workplace, school, or social surroundings. That’s why it’s important to understand which vaccinations you or your family members need.  

What you need will depend on your age, health conditions, work or school requirements, and life plans. For example, if you’re planning to travel to another country or grow your family, you may need certain vaccinations.  

For children, there are scheduled vaccinations such as tetanus, whooping cough, chicken pox, measles, and pneumonia that they get as they get older. Speak with your primary care provider about vaccination recommendations.

How does family history impact my health?

Every visit to your primary care provider starts with questions about your family's medical history. Even if answers don’t change between appointments, it is important for providers to know this history so they can assess your likelihood of developing heart disease, cancer, mental health issues, and other conditions that may be influenced by genetics.  

A complete family history can help your provider:  

• Identify potential risks
• Create a schedule for preventive screenings
• Recommend habits to help you live a healthier life

When you fill out your family history, do so thoroughly and ask questions about any concerns you have about your health. Even if certain conditions run in your family, you and your provider can be proactive and create a plan so you can address them when they’re most treatable.

What lifestyle changes should I make?

How you treat your body every day has an impact on your short- and long-term health.  

Your provider may ask you questions about your eating, sleeping, activity, and stress-management habits. 

Your answers will give them the information needed to suggest healthier habits regarding:  

• Type and amount of exercise
• Changes in eating habits
• Improving sleep or sleep quality
• How to prioritize your mental health
• Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use

Providers use your answers to create suggestions personalized to your health goals and needs. Be transparent about your current lifestyle habits so you can work with your provider to make changes that accomplish your goals.  

What do you look for when doing blood work?

When you visit your primary care provider, they may send you to the lab to do blood work. 

These tests will identify any trends related to your:  

• Cholesterol and heart health
• Blood sugar level
• Kidney and liver function
• Thyroid health
• Vitamin levels

Your provider will explain what each result means and how any outliers might impact your overall health. If you have a chronic condition, your primary care provider likely will order blood work once a year to monitor it, especially if you aren’t working with a specialist. Be sure to follow up with your provider about high or low numbers and what you can do to manage them.  

How does mental health affect my overall health?

When providers take your health history, they’ll ask about your mood, anxiety, and overall mental health. That’s because managing stress and emotions is as important to health as managing physical conditions.  

If you’ve had any lingering mental health issues, bring them up with your provider. These can relate to:  

• Trouble sleeping or insomnia
• Problems focusing
• Unexpected mood changes
• Family history of mental health issues

When mental health issues go untreated, it can make managing physical health harder. Your provider is there to listen and potentially recommend other resources that can support your mental and physical health.  

Primary care providers are a go-to for many of your health care needs. Keep regular appointments with your provider and use that time to ask questions specific to well-being, health goals, and worries. The more information you have, the healthier your choices can be.  

From minor ailments to condition management, BJC Medical Group primary care providers and specialists are here to provide exceptional health care support and guidance. Find a provider or contact your primary care provider to set up your next appointment.