When talking with doctors, we patients are often reluctant to ask questions. That’s not news to anyone. You might remember a public service ad in which a man asks an endless stream of questions while shopping for a smart phone. In the next scene, he sits silently in his doctor’s exam room. Doctor: “Any questions?” Patient: “No.”

Since we’re so reluctant to ask doctors about big things—like how to keep from going to an early grave—it’s no surprise that in many cases, we don’t even consider asking them about little things. We worry about looking stupid, or wasting the doctor’s valuable time, or not making the best use of our rare opportunity to talk to a medical professional. So instead of asking a series of questions to verify and clarify the instructions we’ve been given, we nod, feeling that we should understand, whether or not we actually do.

Case in point: During his initial visit with a new HMO physician, my husband Steve was advised to monitor his blood pressure at home. The doctor recommended purchasing a blood pressure cuff, and he mentioned that a well-known drugstore chain—let’s call it Store A—carried them. He didn’t explain why he specified Store A, and Steve didn’t bother to ask.

As it happened, the doctor also gave Steve a prescription that was called in to a different drugstore. On his way home, Steve decided to save time by picking up a blood pressure cuff at Store B along with his prescription. He didn’t think the brand mattered, and the doctor hadn’t said anything about Store B one way or the other.

At a follow-up visit a few weeks later, the doctor was surprised and perplexed to hear that his patient had purchased Store B’s blood pressure cuff. It turns out that this brand of cuff isn’t adequate, at least in the doctor’s view. “You should return it,” he said, reminding Steve that he had specifically directed him to Store A.

My point here isn’t to tell you which blood pressure cuff is better. (Ask your own doctor.) I’m telling this story to encourage you to do what my husband didn’t: Ask experts to explain their advice.

Don’t worry about looking dumb. Don’t assume you already know the answer. Just ask.

Like Steve, many of us go astray when we make assumptions. At the initial visit, my husband heard and understood what the doctor said. But he thought the doctor was just giving an example of where to buy the cuff, not steering him toward any particular brand.

The doctor also made incorrect assumptions. He took it for granted that Steve would hear his words as a recommendation to buy Store A’s model. He further assumed that Steve would do exactly that, not choose some other option. Had he been a better communicator, the doctor might have clearly stated that he thought Store A’s model was the best choice, then taken a moment to explain why.

But Steve can’t control how well his physician communicates—and neither can you. What you can do is use your generalist skills to improve your communication with medical professionals and, as a result, your health (which you own). Remember these points:

• Allow yourself to be important enough to ask questions and get them answered.
• Just because you don’t see a reason for a particular instruction, don’t assume there is none. There might be a very good reason. Find out what it is.
• When receiving instructions, picture carrying them out and anticipate what your actions will be. If for any reason you might not be willing or able to follow the instructions exactly, explain why and ask, “Would it be okay if I . . . ?”
• Don’t leave the office until your questions have been answered and any issues resolved. Yes, the doctor’s time is valuable, but you are paying for that time and should receive the appropriate value. What’s more, your time is valuable as well—as is your health.