Ask Your Doctor These Important Questions about Your Heart Health
Getting
answers to these questions will give you vital information about your
heart health and what you can do to improve it. You may want to take
this list with you to your doctor's office.
- What is my risk for heart disease?
- What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for men, and what do I need to do about it?
- What
are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total cholesterol, LDL or
"bad" cholesterol, HDL or "good" cholesterol, and triglycerides.) What
do they mean for me, and what do I need to do about them?
- What are my body mass index and waist measurement? Do they indicate that I need to lose weight for my health?
- What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I'm at risk for diabetes?
- What other screening test for heart disease do I need? How often should I return for checkups for my heart health?
- What can you do to help me quit smoking?
- How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
- What
is a heart-healthy eating plan for me? Should I see a registered
dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about healthy eating?
- How can I tell if I'm having a heart attack?
Source: The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.