Ten Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Heart Disease

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

29 Nov 2006 12:44 PM

In the United States, more women die from cardiovascular disease than ANY other cause. That includes cancer! Heart disease and stroke are two serious types of heart disease and are the first and third leading causes of death for women in America.

Too many women don't take the risk of heart disease seriously. Do you know your risk factors? Do you know what things increase your chance of a heart attack or stroke? Do you know how likely you are to develop some kind of heart disease?

Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your risk level when it comes to heart disease and stroke. Here is a list of ten important questions to ask:

1. What is my risk for heart disease?
2. What is my risk for stroke?
3. What screening or tests do you recommend? When do I need them? How often should I be screened?
4. What is my blood pressure? What do the numbers mean?
5. What are my total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride numbers? What do they mean?
6. What is my body mass index (BMI)? What does that number mean?
7. Am I overweight? What is a healthy weight, and how do I get there?
8. How much physical activity should I do every day/week/month to protect my heart and blood vessels?
9. What is my blood sugar level? What are my chances of developing diabetes?
10. What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me?

If there's anything you don't understand about your health, your heart disease risks, or test results, keep asking questions until you are satisfied!

One of the best things you can do for your body to reduce the risk of heart disease is quit smoking. There are plenty of resources for you to help you kick the habit -- new studies are showing that simply reducing the amount you smoke isn't enough. You need to quit smoking entirely to help your body.

• More about heart disease from Families.com!
• More about women's health from Families.com!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger