When you have heart disease, it’s important to work closely with your primary care provider to manage the disease and prevent complications from developing. Good communication, a clear treatment plan, and regular visits to your primary care provider can go a long way toward helping you take good care of yourself and stay healthy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to talking to your doctor effectively about heart disease:

Step One: Know your numbers.

First, find out how severe your heart disease is and what you can expect over time. Then, find out how to set your targets for managing your condition: What are your current blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride numbers? What ranges are you aiming for with treatments, like medications and lifestyle modifications, prescribed by your physician?

Step Two: Manage your medicines.

Ask your doctor to explain why you’re taking a particular heart medication, how it works, how often you should take it and whether it should be taken with or without food, and what side effects or potential interactions you should watch out for. Are there any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you should avoid? Given your condition, should you be concerned about the , alcohol, or caffeine content of any drugs you might take occasionally (such as cough syrup or headache remedies)? Are there any possible interactions or side effects you should be aware of with other drugs (such as blood-thinning medications) that you may be taking?

Step Three: Look at your lifestyle.

Find out how you should modify your diet, how often and vigorously you should exercise, and what special measures you should take for getting more sleep or rest. Also, should you try to lose weight? Should you learn new ways to cope with stress or set appropriate limits in your life? Being overweight or under stress can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, making it harder to manage heart disease. Keep in mind, too, that feelings of depression or anxiety, which are fairly common after suffering a heart attack, can complicate heart disease; ask your doctor what you should do to manage your mood or deal with a downturn in mood. 

Step Four: Plan ahead.

Ask your doctor how often you should be seen for routine visits and what tests you should expect at these appointments. Also, find out how often you should see a specialist for dental and vision check-ups. In addition, ask what other medical conditions—like diabetes or sleep apnea—may complicate your management of heart disease.

Step Five: Fill in the blanks.

To make sure you’re not overlooking anything important, it helps to ask your doctor a few catch-all questions, such as: What else do I need to know? What stumbling blocks should I watch out for in my care? What kinds of symptoms or changes should always be reported to you? When should I seek emergency care? Are there medications (such as aspirin or nitroglycerin) that I should take if I have warning signs of a heart attack or heart failure?