5 questions you should always ask at doctor's appointments

When you go to the doctor, you’re probably the one answering most of the questions. Yet it’s essential to make sure you're asking plenty of your own. “We need to get someone to fund a bazillion-dollar PSA to tell people to be bolder when they talk to their doctors,” says Risa Arin, founder and CEO of XpertPatient, a patient-education platform. “I see this over and over again: people aren’t asking any questions, never mind the right ones.” We asked experts to share the questions you should ask your doctor to help you get well or stay that way.

- BY ANGELA HAUPT

1. What screenings should I get?

Exactly which health screenings you need, and when, depends on factors like age, sex, and your personal and family medical history. At your annual physical, ask your doctor what you should prioritize in the coming year, so you don't miss anything, suggests Dr. Jessica Edwards, founder and CEO of Zara Medical, a hybrid primary-care practice. Screening yearly for mental-health disorders like depression is important too—so if your doctor doesn't bring it up, initiate the conversation, she says.

2. What vitamins and supplements might be helpful?