Certainly. Here's a brief and focused list of questions you can take to your cardiologist to better understand and manage your heart condition:
About My Heart Function
- What is my current ejection fraction (EF)?
- Has my EF changed since my last test?
- Do I have systolic or diastolic heart failure?
About My Treatment
- Is my current dose of Lasix appropriate for my level of swelling?
- Are there other medications I should be on for heart failure or AFib?
- Am I receiving guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure?
About My AFib
- Is my AFib well controlled in terms of heart rate and rhythm?
- Should I be on a blood thinner, or do I need a Watchman device (if not already implanted)?
About My Sleep Apnea and CPAP
- Is my CPAP therapy effective and up to date?
- Could untreated or poorly managed sleep apnea worsen my heart failure or AFib?
About Monitoring and Lifestyle
- Should I be weighing myself daily? What weight gain should prompt a call?
- Do I need to limit salt or fluids more strictly?
- How often should I have an echocardiogram or lab work?
No comments:
Post a Comment