Regular check ups One of the most important things you can do is talk to your doctor about your risk of heart disease. Often there are no symptoms of heart disease. That is why it is so important when you next visit your doctor to have your risk factors measured – whether or not you think anything is wrong with you.
Be honest and provide your doctor with as much information about your lifestyle and family history as possible. If you’re not sure what questions to ask your doctor, see the list of questions below for an idea of where to start.
Questions you can ask your doctor
Family history
- Does my family history put me at increased risk of heart disease?
Blood pressure
- What should my blood pressure be?
- How often should I have my blood pressure checked?
- How can I lower my blood pressure?
Blood cholesterol
- What is blood cholesterol?
- Am I due for a blood cholesterol test?
- What do my blood cholesterol numbers mean?
- What should my blood cholesterol goal be?
- What can I do to reduce my total blood cholesterol level?
Lifestyle
- What lifestyle changes can I make to help manage my blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels?
- What should I be eating to reduce my risk factors?
- What types of physical activity can I do?
- How much physical activity should I be doing?
- What can I do to achieve or maintain a healthy weight?
- What can I do to stop smoking?
Medicines
- Will I need to take medicines to manage my blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels?
- If yes, what medicines do I need and what do they do?
- Are there any side effects I need to be aware of?
- For how long do I need to take medicine?
- How should I take my medicines (e.g. once a day with food, or twice a day 30 minutes before meals)?
- Can you give me a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet for my medicine?
Tests
- Why do I need this test?
- How is it done?
- Will it hurt?
- What are the benefits and risks of the test?
- When will I get the results?
- Will I need to stay in hospital?
Referrals
- Do I need to see another health professional, such as a dietician, physical activity professional or cardiologist?