If you’re headed to your doctor’s for a check-up, consider asking the following heart health questions:
- How does my family history affect my heart health? And what are my risks for heart disease given my personal risk factors?
- Are tests needed at this time to check my risk of heart disease? If so, what are these tests? How often should these tests be done?
- What are my values or results from these tests? (like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight)
- How do my values/results compare to what is considered normal?
- What should I know about the effects of menopause on my health?
- What are the warning signs or symptoms of heart attack?
- Are my exercise habits increasing my risk of heart disease?
- Is my level of stress/anxiety increasing my risk of heart disease?
- Are there programs to help me quit smoking?
- What kind of physical activity is right for me?
- Do I need to lose weight or gain weight for my health?
- Should I be taking medication to lower my risk for heart disease?
- What support is available to help me achieve my goals?
- How can I tell if I’m having a heart attack? If I think I’m having one, what should I do?
The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre has a great set of Questions to Ask your Doctor if you have heart health concerns specific to diabetes, cancer, depression, pregnancy, etc.
Read #DidYouKnow That 7 Times As Many Women Die From Heart Disease As Cancer? for a list of the signs and symptoms of heart disease for women.