4 Reasons Doctors Choose to Visit a Physician—And When You Should Consider It Too

It can be tricky to know whether you should see a doctor about a symptom you’re experiencing.

For many people, going to the doctor is an anxiety-inducing experience—and in some cases, symptoms may resolve on their own without the help of a medical professional. But in others, ignoring a health issue could make it worse. No one can predict the future, which is why the decision over when to seek medical care can put anyone into a serious mental spiral.

Just know this: Doctors go through a similar dilemma when they get sick. Because medical ethics usually prevent doctors from treating themselves, they also need to contact a physician when they’re under the weather. And, like you, they’d rather not have to see a doctor.

So, what do general practitioners take into consideration when deciding if they should contact a physician? Here’s what they said.

Angela U. Tucker, MD, a family physician and clinical assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Health that she relies on her medical training before deciding to contact a doctor about a health issue.

“I think about the worst-case scenario, and how likely that is to be true,” she said. “If the likelihood of a big problem is really small, I’m more likely to wait.”

For example, Tucker said that a pain in her chest would make her think there’s a remote possibility that she could be having a heart attack. But she’ll then assess herself to see if it gets worse with activity, along with her risk factors. “If I can get up and do jumping jacks, and it doesn’t change the pain, it’s less likely to be my heart,” she said. “But if I had a previous history of a heart attack, then I would be more concerned.”

If she has a cough, she’ll usually try to evaluate herself for more common issues like allergies, acid reflux, and a virus. “I might try some home remedies or over-the-counter medications to see what kind of response I get to see if I should be concerned,” she said.

Still, Tucker said she’ll definitely see a doctor if she’s sick to the point where it interferes with her ability to do her usual activities.

Peter Yangga, MD, an internal medicine physician at Northwell Health, told Health that it can be “challenging” to decide when to see a doctor—even though he is one.

“I usually wait until my symptoms are severe or concerning before seeking further evaluation,” he said. If his symptoms stick around or get worse, but it doesn’t seem like an emergency or life-threatening situation, he’ll also contact a doctor.

“Why is that a deciding factor? Any progression of disease severity are some red flags to seek medical help,” Yangga said. “Usually more extensive diagnostic tests and treatments are needed to resolve the condition, and to prevent further complications.”

Still, he admitted that he, like many doctors, he tends to under-react to his symptoms. “With a busy schedule and some biases from medical experience, medical professionals usually tend to delay and wait,” he said. But Yangga also stressed that if he thinks he’s dealing with an emergency, he’ll “of course” seek a medical evaluation.

Sulagna Misra, MD, an internal medicine doctor and founding physician at Misra Wellness, told Health that she tries to focus on how much a symptom impacts her and her quality of life.

“When the body has a symptom, I take it as the body speaking,” she said. “We don’t want to ignore it and shut it up. We want to listen and identify the root cause if possible.”

Ultimately, Misra said it’s better to contact a doctor than not. “If something is bothering you, if you have a question, if you have a concern, if you don’t understand something, if you’re having symptoms and they don’t go away and they’re worrisome, if you’re bleeding and it won’t stop, if you’re coughing, and it won’t stop or it gets worse—anything that prevents you from doing your activities of daily living—should prompt you to immediately contact your doctor,” she said.

Laura Purdy, MD, family medicine physician and founder of JellyMed and Swell Medical, told Health that she tries to wait out her symptoms before seeking medical care.

“It’s extremely rare that I’ll run to the doctor unless it’s been a few days of OTC that are not working,” she said.

But Purdy said there are exceptions. “I do reach out to my doctor at the very first sign of a urinary tract infection,” she said. (Those symptoms can include a burning sensation with peeing and feeling like you need to pee without peeing a lot. It can also be blood in your urine or urine that looks off or has a strong odor, she said.) “Those should never wait,” Purdy said. “I’ve treated too many hospitalized patients with kidney infections for me to try to handle that myself.”

Still, Purdy stresses the importance of listening to your body. “If it’s something you have never felt before and are concerned about, then trust your gut and talk to your doctor as soon as possible,” she said.