Sometimes we just don’t feel good. It happens to everyone and it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you feel speaking to your GP would offer you some peace of mind. But, sometimes, we may feel that we need to go a little more often. That’s fine too. When you think it’s best to speak to your doctor it’s always good to follow your gut instinct. Hopefully, this brief post will help you decide whether or not you need to see the doctor quite so often
How often should I see the doctor?
There are no firm rules about how often you should see your doctor unless you have a pre-existing condition or are on a particular type of medication. However, it’s a general rule that if you are over 50 you should go at least once a year to get a routine check-up. If you are under 50, once every two to three years is fine. That assumes that you are feeling more or less fine every day and have no symptoms that are causing you concern. Especially if it’s something that needs immediate treatment like Impetigo. If you do have something you are worried about. speak to your GP. They are there to help, it’s their job, if you think that’s what’s best then that’s what you should do. This great article by WebMD covers a generalization of whether or not you need to book a yearly appointment or if you would benefit from a higher frequency than that.
Things to consider:
All that being said, if you are visiting the doctor to ask basic questions that you don’t feel you can find the answer to online, you may want to try speaking to a pharmacist instead. You can do this in person at your local pharmacy or use a great online resource such as onlinepharmacy.co.uk. Pharmacists are more than qualified to answer a plethora of questions you may have about general health and wellbeing or even specific medications. While they have more limitations on what they can and can’t prescribe you than a doctor has, they still have a huge arsenal of resources they can use to assist you.
Asking the right questions
Sometimes we go into the doctor’s surgery expecting them to ask the right questions to help us uncover what’s wrong with us. But, that shouldn’t always be the case. Before speaking to your doctor have a clear idea in your mind of what the problems are and what you need from them. If you have chronic pain, for example, you may wish to ask how often is best to see them again for a regular check-up. Rather than trying to work it out for yourself simply ask for their advice. These aren’t hard rules, if they say come back in 3 months and two weeks later you feel worse, you can always book an earlier appointment. Use their suggestion as a benchmark to help you make an informed decision. And remember, trust your gut. if you think you need to see the doctor then err on the side of caution and book yourself in.