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