As we kick off American Heart Month, each week we will focus on heart-healthy living. This first look is the relationship between you and your doctor. The first step towards heart health is understanding your risk of heart disease. Your risk depends on many factors, some of which are changeable, and others are not.
Risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol generally don’t have obvious signs or symptoms. A crucial step in determining your risk is to see your doctor on a regular basis for a thorough checkup and risk assessment.
Here are some questions to ask your doctor:
- What is my blood pressure? What does it mean to me, and what do I need to do about it?
- What is my risk of heart disease?
- What are my cholesterol numbers? What do they mean to me, and what do I need to do about them?
- What is my risk of developing heart disease?
- What other screening tests for heart disease do I need? How often should I return for checkups for my heart health?
- How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?
- How can we work together to quit smoking and eat better?
References:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-healthy-living
