| Know the facts | Know your numbers | Know your risk factors | Manage your risk factors |
| Exercise for life | Eat heart healthy | Manage your stress | Work with your doctor |
| Additional Resources | |||
Heart Health
Eight Steps to a Healthy Heart
Step Eight: Work with your doctor
- Ask your doctor questions
- Follow your doctor's instructions
- Keep appointments to see your doctor
- Keep appointments for blood work or other tests
- Keep a Health Journal
- Record your any new symptoms
- Write down any questions you want to ask
- Take notes when you doctor answers your questions
- Take notes when your doctor gives you instructions
- Record the dates of your tests
- Write a list of your medications
- Bring your Health Journal with you when you visit your doctor
- Take medications as prescribed
- General Advice
- Keep a record of all your current medicines, including their names and regimens (dose, time, and other instructions for taking). Write down any problems you have with the medicine so you can discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Using adequate light, read labels carefully before taking doses.
- Ask the doctor's or pharmacist's advice before crushing or splitting tablets; some should only be swallowed whole.
- Contact the doctor or pharmacist if new or unexpected symptoms or other problems appear.
- Never stop taking medicine the doctor has told you to finish just because symptoms disappear.
- Ask the doctor periodically to reevaluate long-term treatments.
- If you have questions, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using an OTC medicine the first time, especially if you use other medicine.
- Carefully read OTC medicine labels for ingredients, proper uses, directions, warnings, precautions, and expiration dates. Many medicines contain the same ingredients. Be sure you're not taking the same drug in more than one form.
- Discard outdated medicine.
- Store medicine in the original container, where the label identifies it and gives directions.
- Never store medicine in the bathroom. Unless instructed otherwise, keep it away from heat, light and moisture.
- Never store medicine near a dangerous substance, which could be taken by mistake.
- Never take someone else's medicine.
- Tell your health professional if you:
- Are breast-feeding or are, or may be, pregnant.
- Are allergic to drugs or foods.
- Have diabetes or kidney or liver disease.
- Take other prescription or OTC medicines regularly.
- Follow a special diet or take dietary supplements.
- Use alcohol or tobacco.
More tips for helping your medicines work as safely and effectively as possible:
