How to Write an Email to Ask Someone About Their Health

Emails / By

While it’s nice to show concern for someone when they’ve had issues with their health, it can be difficult to phrase this concern in an email. You need to remain polite and avoid pressing the issue. If you can do that, you can turn the email into something considerate and thoughtful.

To draft an email to someone to ask about their health, be sure you know them well enough for this to be appropriate and that you write in an informal, personal tone. Ask for general overviews rather than specifics, and offer to speak over the phone or in person for more detailed information. Offer kind thoughts even if you don’t get a response.

Here’s how you can write an email to ask someone about their health.

How to Write an Email to Ask Someone About Their Health

Firstly, it’s important to note that most people will not be comfortable sharing specific details of their personal health situation in an email. This is an incredibly sensitive topic for many, especially if they are dealing with a chronic or intensely affective disease or condition. In many cases, the best way to contact someone about a more serious condition is over the phone or in person.

That being said, if it is a less serious condition such as a temporary illness or injury, emailing may be appropriate as a sign that you are thinking about them and wishing them well without intruding on their recovery process.

So, to write an email to ask about someone’s health

  1. Offer a friendly introduction.
  2. Offer your sympathy and acknowledge the situation.
  3. Ask general questions such as “How are you?” or “How are you feeling now?”
  4. Assure the recipient that you will not pry and that they need only give information they are comfortable with.
  5. Offer another method of contact.
  6. Wish them well and sign off.

You’ll want to keep this message brief and simple; a person dealing with a health condition likely doesn’t want to spend as much time checking their inbox as they normally would and may even be unable to keep up with long messages that might work in other contexts.

Health Inquiry Email Templates

You might choose to use a template such as this one to express your concerns. Adapt it to fit your situation as you see fit.

SUBJECT: Checking in on you

Hi [Name],

I heard about your recent [Condition/Injury]. I’m so sorry! That sounds incredibly uncomfortable and unpleasant. How are you feeling now? I don’t expect details, but if you do want to discuss this more in-depth, you can always contact me via [Method]. I’d be happy to chat that way if you’d prefer.

I hope that you’ve been able to recover well and get some much-needed rest.

Yours,

[Name]

For a more professional setting, you might use this template instead.

SUBJECT: Checking on you from [Company]

Hi [Name],

We’re so sorry to hear about your recent [Condition/Injury]. It sounds like an incredibly uncomfortable and unpleasant situation. You have our deepest sympathies.

We would love to have an update on how you’re feeling now if you are comfortable sharing. Are you recovering well? If you’d prefer to talk another way, you can reach us at [Method/Contact Information].

Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. We wish you well.

Regards,

[Name/Company]

Once again, feel free to adapt these templates to better match both the situation of the recipient and your relationship to them. You may even choose to combine them or a more personal professional address or an acquaintance.

Conor
Latest posts by Conor (see all)