Take an Active Role

All women need to take an active role in their health care. Forming a good partnership with your health care provider is a great place to start. Good partnerships depend on good communication. You will get more out of each visit with your provider, and help your provider to give you the best possible care, if you learn how to talk about any symptoms you might be having, as well as your lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you better communicate with your provider.

• Be prepared. Make a list of your concerns and questions and bring them with you when you see your provider. Make another list of any medications that you are taking including any over-the-counter drugs (non-prescription). You might even want to bring all of your medications in their pill bottles or packages, to show your provider. Also, make a note of any past illnesses, surgeries, and treatments, including mental health treatment.

• Tell your story. Your provider will ask you about your lifestyle and habits, such as your diet, exercise, smoking, and other issues related to heart health. Be sure to mention if you have ever been told that you have high blood pressure or cholesterol. Also let your provider know if anyone in your family has had a heart attack or stroke, or any history of heart disease. If you are having symptoms, tell your provider when they began, how often they happen, and whether they are getting better, worse, or staying the same. Keeping a diary of your symptoms will help you keep track of them and help you talk about them with your provider. You can even bring your diary with you to your visit.

• Take notes. This will help you to remember what your provider tells you. You can also use your note pad to write down questions as you think of them.

• Ask questions. Your provider may order tests to assess your risk or symptoms, and then recommend certain lifestyle changes or specific treatments. Make sure that you fully understand your condition and any tests ordered or treatments prescribed. If your provider says something that you do not understand, ask her or him to explain. Keep in mind that there are no "stupid" questions - every question that you might have is important when it comes to your heart health.

• Speak up for yourself. If you do not feel that your provider has fully answered your question or addressed a symptom, be sure to let her or him know! (See Ask questions above.) If a prescribed treatment is not working or you are having side effects, be sure to let your provider know your concerns. Your provider can talk with you about why the treatment might be causing side effects or not working the way it should. And, she or he may prescribe a different treatment(s) that could work better for you.