Questions to Ask

If you've been diagnosed with heart failure, it may be hard to know what questions to ask. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

• What type of heart failure do I have, and what does my ejection fraction mean?
• How might it affect my future health?
• What treatment options are best for me given my type and stage of heart failire?
• How do each of the medicines work to improve my heart health?
• How will I know if my condition is getting worse? When should I call you? When should I call 911?
• If I notice that I am weighing more, at what point should I call you?
• What is my goal weight?
• How much exercise can I do and what activities are best? What about muscle strengthening?
• What is cardiac rehabilitation and do I qualify?
• Can you review each of the medications I am taking and what they do?
• I know it’s important to limit sodium (salt). What should be my daily goal (under 1,500 mg)?
• Would I benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or other device?
• How often will I need to have my heart checked?
• Are there specific blood tests that can help monitor my heart failure or guide my treatment?