10 Important Questions for Women to Ask Their Doctor (Women's Health Matters article) (Web resource; WHM resource) Organization: Women's College Hospital, Women's Health Matters Do you think men and women’s health issues are the same across the board? Do you believe symptoms for the same conditions are always the same for men and women? Think again. Here are 10 of the most important health questions women should ask their doctors during their annual check-up that are unique for them. Ask your doctor about the ones relevant to you and start the conversation about your unique health. 1. I heard that along with cancer, heart disease is a major killer of Canadian women. Should I be doing more to prevent heart disease from happening to me? 2. Is it true that diabetes is a more important risk factor for heart disease for women than men? What is my risk and what can I do to help prevent developing heart disease? 3. As a woman, am I at risk for developing high blood pressure? Should I be tested regularly? 4. Heart attacks and strokes have a lot of common symptoms such as chest pain. But are there any symptoms that are unique to women that I should watch out for? 5. It’s a well-known fact that type 2 diabetes is on the rise, but I understand the biggest jumps are being seen in women ages 20-50. What are the risk factors for diabetes that affect me and what can I do to reduce my risk? 6. I’ve heard that diabetes affects women differently than men because of the effect on my hormones, and can actually affect my reproductive health. Can you tell me more about this? 7. Is it true that women are twice as likely as men to be disabled by arthritis? What steps can I take to keep arthritis at bay or manage it properly? 8. I heard that women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. As a woman, what steps can I take to get help? 9. There’s a lot of scary information out there about cancer, but one of the facts that scares me most is that the effects of tobacco are far more damaging to women than men. What are some of the steps I can take to help me quit smoking? 10. Is it true that women are the fastest growing group affected by non-melanoma skin cancer? How do I know if I’m at risk? Developing a dialogue with your doctor is critical to your overall health, and this list is just the beginning. Talk to him or her about your health needs that are unique to women – of course reproductive issues, but beyond too – to ensure you’re taking care of you. Related Resources: In August 2008, Women’s College Hospital conducted a survey of 800 Canadian women to learn what they knew of the women’s health issues raised in these 10 questions. See our article for the results. Purpose:  Consumer information/support; Health information Information Source:  Hospital/Clinic Geographic Origin:  Canada Language of Resource:  English Groups:  Adult women; Middle-aged women; Older women Last Reviewed by Women's Health Matters:  November 12, 2008