Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Whether you've been diagnosed or are managing risk factors, these questions help you take control.
Understanding Your Heart Health
What specific type of heart disease do I have, and how serious is it?
Heart disease is a broad category — the specific type determines your treatment and outlook.
What is my ejection fraction, and what does that number mean?
Ejection fraction measures how well your heart pumps — it's a key metric.
What are my biggest modifiable risk factors right now?
Focusing on what you can change is empowering and effective.
Treatment & Medications
What medications are you prescribing, and what does each one do?
Heart patients often take multiple medications — understanding each one improves adherence.
Are there any procedures I might need, like stenting or bypass surgery?
Understanding potential procedures helps with planning and decision-making.
How will we monitor my heart going forward?
Regular monitoring catches problems before they become emergencies.
Lifestyle & Emergency Planning
What symptoms should make me call 911 immediately?
Knowing the difference between concerning and emergency symptoms could save your life.
What kind of exercise is safe for me, and how much?
Cardiac rehab and exercise are beneficial but need to be appropriate for your condition.
Should my family learn CPR?
Bystander CPR doubles or triples survival rates for cardiac arrest.