Coronary Artery Disease
(CAD)
Ask your doctor
The following questions can help you talk to your doctor about your coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Print out or write down these questions and take them to your appointment. Taking notes can help you remember your doctor’s response when you get home.
- Based on my family history, am I at greater risk for CAD?
- Based on my personal history, am I at greater risk for CAD?
- Could the symptoms I am having be related to CAD?
- Do my cholesterol levels put me at risk for CAD?
- Is my weight within a healthy range to prevent CAD?
- Does diabetes put me at greater risk for CAD?
- Can you help me quit smoking (if you smoke)?
- Is my blood pressure within the normal range? Can you help me control my high blood pressure?
- What dietary choices should I be making for cardiovascular health?
- What level of exercise is safe for me and will also have cardiovascular benefits?
- For women*: Could birth control pills, my pregnancy history (including any complications I had during my pregnancies), or menopause put me at greater risk for CAD?
- Are there lab tests or diagnostic tests you recommend based on my risk factors or symptoms?
If you’ve been diagnosed with CAD
If you’ve been diagnosed with CAD, worrying about and wanting as much information about the disease and treatment as possible is normal. It can be challenging for patients who have experienced a serious cardiovascular event such as a heart attack. The following questions can lay the groundwork for a discussion between you and your doctor.
- Am I in danger of having a first or recurrent heart attack?
- What does my chest pain (angina) mean for me? What can we do to manage or eliminate my chest pain?
- What additional tests may I need?
- What are my treatment options? What combination of lifestyle, medication, and in-hospital treatments/surgery may be necessary to combat the disease?
- What is my prognosis? What are the likely outcomes?
- Will I be able to have my desired quality of life? What can I do to improve the odds of this?
- What happens after treatment? If treatment involves recovery, how long will that take?
- What follow-up will be necessary?
- Am I a good candidate for a cardiac rehabilitation program?
- How long is a particular treatment likely to be effective?
- Who can I turn to for support (hospital staff, support groups, etc.)?
*The term “women” in the context of “women’s cardiovascular health” applies to individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) who have a female biological reproductive system, which includes a vagina, uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, accessory glands, and external genital organs.
*The term “men” in the context of “cardiovascular health” applies to individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) who have a male biological reproductive system, which includes a penis, scrotum, testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, and seminal vesicles.