Be Prepared to Have an Informed Discussion with Your Cardiologist about Heart Health

Knowing your numbers and risk factors will allow you to have an informed discussion with your physician regarding heart health.

There are many reasons to see a cardiologist. No matter what your reason, it is important to be prepared for your appointment. As a cardiologist, Martha Gulati, MD greatly encourages all her patients to come prepared, ask questions and take notes during their appointments.

To help patients prepare for their appointments, Dr. Gulati created a “cheat sheet” for patients to fill out and share with their cardiologists.

 " Be Prepard to Meet with Your Cardiologist" (pdf) 
 

“Bringing the completed document to their appointment will provide valuable information to the cardiologists by giving an overview of the patient’s risk factors and baseline heart health,” says Gulati. “Also, patients that know their numbers, including blood pressure, blood cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), are more apt to take action and improve their numbers.“

Dr. Gulati is an associate medical director of the Center for Women's Cardiovascular Health at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and assistant professor of Medicine and Preventative Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Remember that being an active participant in the care of your heart health leads to improved quality of care and greater patient satisfaction.