Friday, October 16, 2009

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

I thought I would share a list of very important questions you should ask your doctor. The American Heart Association (where I work) is always trying to inspire patients to be their own "advocates." So - here is a list of very important questions you should ask your doctor.

I obviously was thinking of this, since I am headed to a cardiologist. I wanted to make sure I was going to be knowledgeable on all levels. So - I noticed our website had a list of awesome questions.

Share this with a family member - and enjoy!

Questions To Ask Your Doctor:

Many people may have questions for their doctors about tests, surgery and other procedures, therapy and recovery, drug treatment, risk factors and lifestyle changes. Here are examples of common questions; the topics are in alphabetical order.

About blood cholesterol
____
What do my cholesterol numbers mean?
____
What is my goal cholesterol level?
____
How often should I have my levels checked?
____
How does exercise affect my cholesterol levels?
____
What type of foods should I eat?
____
Will I need cholesterol-lowering medicine?
____
How long will it take to reach my cholesterol goals?
About diet after heart attack, stroke or surgery
____
What foods should I eat?
____
What foods should I limit?
____
How do I read food labels?
____
What are some cooking tips for me?
____
What about eating out?
____
What can I eat at fast-food restaurants?
____
How can I control the portions?
____
How much salt may I eat?
About drug treatment
____
Will I need to take medicine?
____
What kind of medicine should I take?
____
Will my insurance cover this medication?
____
Can I take the generic form of the medicine?
____
What should I know about the medicine?
____
What are the side effects?
____
How do I know if it's working?
____
How can I remember when to take medicine?
____
What if I forget to take a medicine?
____
Should I avoid any foods or other medicines?
____
Can I drink alcohol?
____
How long will I need to take my medicine?
____
Will I have to keep taking medicine?
About high blood pressure
____
What should my blood pressure be?
____
What are my options in controlling high blood pressure?
____
How often should my blood pressure be checked?
____
What about home blood pressure monitors?
____
Should I use blood pressure machines at stores?
____
How does exercise affect my blood pressure?
____
What's my daily sodium (or salt) limit?
____
Is there sodium in the medicine I take?
____
Will I need to take blood pressure medicine?
____
Will I always have to take medicine?
____
Why do I need to lose weight?
About the hospital (before surgery or procedure)
____
When do I check in?
____
What will happen before the (surgery, procedure)?
____
How long will it take?
____
Where can my family wait for me?
____
What effects (temporary or permanent) will the surgery have on me?
____
What is the doctor's experience in performing this procedure?
____
What medicines will be prescribed (short term/long term)?
____
For how long will I have to rest at home after surgery?
About a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator
____
Does the shock hurt?
____
How long will my batteries last?
____
How do I know if it's working?
____
When can I take showers and baths?
____
Can I swim?
____
What equipment or devices should I avoid?
____
Can my arrhythmia be cured?
About physical activity after stroke, heart attack or surgery
____
Why is physical activity important?
____
Can I exercise? When?
____
Can I play sports?
____
What are the best types of activities for me?
____
How much activity do I need?
____
Can I have sex?
About physical therapy and rehabilitation
____
When do I start rehabilitation?
____
How often should I go to rehab?
____
Is it covered by my health insurance?
____
How long will I need therapy?
____
What happens when my rehab program stops?
About quitting cigarettes and tobacco
____
What can I do to stop the cravings?
____
How many minutes do cravings last?
____
What about a nicotine patch or gum?
____
After I quit, when will the urges stop?
____
What if I start gaining weight?
____
How can I keep from gaining weight?
____
How can family and friends help?
____
What if I slip and go back to tobacco?
____
How long will it take to reduce my risk?
____
What do I do if a nicotine patch or gum doesn't work?
About recovery at home (after heart attack, stroke or surgery)
____
Can leaving the hospital cause mixed feelings?
____
Will I need special transportation or equipment?
____
Should I stay in bed?
____
How much activity can I do?
____
How can my family help me?
____
Can I get financial assistance?
____
Can I get emotional assistance?
____
Can I get in-home assistance for daily tasks?
____
What type of diet should I eat?
____
What about medicine?
____
Will my (aphasia, chest pains, weakness, etc.) go away?
____
When should I call my doctor?
____
Are my feelings normal?
____
What if I stay depressed?
____
Can I have sex?
____
How soon can I drive?
____
When can I go back to work?
____
When should I schedule a visit to the doctor?
____
How can I prevent another attack?
____
What changes should I make in my lifestyle?
About recovery in the hospital (after stroke, heart attack or surgery)
____
What happens after surgery?
____
How soon can my family visit?
____
Will there be pain or fever?
____
What are the ICU and CCU?
____
What happens in the ICU and CCU?
____
What are the tubes and wires for?
____
Can I see the monitors?
____
What does it mean if an alarm goes off?
____
What feelings can arise in the ICU?
____
When will I leave the ICU?
____
How long will the breathing tube stay in?
____
What happens when I leave the ICU?
____
What can be done to help in recovery?
____
How soon can I get out of bed?
____
What is a good sleeping position?
____
When can I eat and drink?
____
What about bathing?
____
When will my (chest, head, neck, leg, etc.) heal?
____
What about medicine?
____
How long will the pain last?
____
When do I start rehabilitation?
____
How long do I stay in the hospital?
____
What should my family know?
About surgery or procedures
____
Will I need surgery?
____
Why do I need it?
____
What is the surgery or procedure like?
____
How is it done?
____
What are the risks?
____
Could I have a stroke or heart attack during surgery?
____
What are the alternatives?
____
Will I need this procedure or surgery again?
____
What should my family know?
About symptoms and warning signs
____
How can I tell a heart attack from angina?
____
How is a heart attack different from a stroke?
____
How is a TIA different from a stroke?
____
What should I do if I have any of the symptoms of a stroke or heart attack?
____
Where can I or someone in my family take a CPR class?
About tests for heart or brain function
____
Why do I need it?
____
How is it done?
____
Will it hurt?
____
What will the test show?
____
How soon will I get the results?
____
What is monitored during the test?
____
What equipment is used?
____
Is there a risk?
____
Could it give me a heart attack or stroke?
____
What are the alternatives?
____
Will my artificial heart valve cause problems?
____
Could my implanted pacemaker cause problems?
____
Will I need more tests?
About weight control
____
Why are weight control and physical activity important?
____
How often should I check my weight?
____
How much weight should I lose?
____
How fast should I lose weight?
____
What diet guidelines should I follow?
____
What are the best types of physical activities for me?
____
How much physical activity do I need to do?
____
How much weight gain is too much?
____
How can family and friends help?
____
How do I find a dietitian to help me develop a good, long-term weight-loss plan?

No comments:

YOUR AD HERE!

Interested in purchasing ad space? Your ad could be RIGHT HERE.
Email snicoleabdou@gmail.com for more details.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails