Asking someone how they are

I always expect people to reply to "how are you" with a "fine, thanks. I don't really want to know, I'm just being polite. When I was in the depths of despair last summer having found out DD (teenager) was pregnant, this was the only response I gave as I was not able to say how I really felt.

My niece is a doctor. When newly qualified she worked in a hospice in York. She would do her rounds and crouch down (she is very tall) beside some fragile old gent to ask him how he was. Time and again she would get the reply "Never better"

@reluctantnanna is baby arrived yet?

When I ask someone how they are, and they reply, "I'm good" I always have to stop myself from saying, "I asked about your health, not your morals." ?

If you don't want to know the answer don't ask the question

I don't ask how they are feeling! I just say hello and pass on!

I think we really do need a different greeting. When someone asks how you are, they're not actually interested in the answer.
But I greatly dislike the answer, 'I'm good.'