• Make a list of your questions, symptoms and concerns — ask a friend to help.
• Ask a family member or friend to accompany you to your appointment.

If the results of medical tests won't be ready for a few days:

• Ask your doctor if your results will be mailed to you or if you should expect a phone call.
• Ask who will be available to explain the results to you.

If you need to ask questions later:

• Find out who to call in your healthcare provider's office, and the best times to call.

If your doctor or nurse advises you to change your diet or lifestyle, or suggests you take medicine:

• Ask how these changes will help you feel better or improve your health.
• Ask what might happen if you don't follow the recommendations.
• Ask about specific behavior changes. For example, if you need to increase your physical activity, ask what he or she means by physical activity, how long you should do it and what type of activity will be best for your needs. If your doctor suggests you lose weight, ask how much weight and how long that weight loss should take.
• Ask about your local American Heart Association or community support groups.

If your healthcare provider recommends avoiding certain foods:

• Make sure you understand what he or she means.
• Ask for a list of the foods you shouldn't eat.
• Think positive! Get a list of foods that you can eat.
• Learn to read food labels so you'll be able to tell how much fat, sodium and other ingredients are in your diet.

Review your progress:

• If you're taking drugs to lower your blood pressure, ask your doctor if you should have a home blood pressure monitoring kit to see if your medicine is working.
• If you're monitoring blood pressure at home, ask when you can expect to see the results from the medicine.
• Make a chart to record your progress with nutrition, physical activity, weight loss or gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Share your results with your doctor.
• If you aren't making progress, share those results and ask why your progress is slow.
• Ask your doctor if or when you're supposed to come back to have your progress monitored.

If you're taking many different types of medication:

• On a daily calendar, indicate when you should take your medication, then make a check mark when you take it.
• Buy an inexpensive plastic pill box marked with the days of the week to help you remember to take your medication.
• When you visit your doctor, take all of your medications, including over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or any herbal remedies you use. Ask your doctor to review them with you to see if you may not need to take some of them anymore.

If your healthcare provider recommends increasing your physical activity:

• Ask what kind of activities — walking for example — you should be doing and how long you should do them.
• Ask if you should wear special shoes or other clothing.

If your healthcare provider recommends stopping smoking, weight control or both:

• Ask for suggestions on support groups that could help you.
• Ask if medications could help you achieve either your smoke-free or weight-loss goal.
• Ask for pamphlets to help you quit smoking or lose weight.

This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 10/03/08.