Access information on common Heart attack questions at Consumer Reports Health.

Heart attack

Questions to ask your doctor

If you've had a heart attack, you may want to talk to your doctor to find out more.

Here are some questions that you might want to ask:

How much has my heart been damaged? Where is the damage?
Is my heart pumping correctly?
Am I likely to have complications from my heart attack, such as abnormal heart rhythms?
Could my heart stop beating?
Did I have treatment to unblock the artery that supplies blood to my heart (the

coronary arteries
Coronary arteries are the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. If yours are blocked, you may have a pain in your chest (known as angina) or a heart attack because parts of the heart are not getting enough blood and oxygen.

coronary artery)? If I haven't, will I have treatment to unblock it?
If I had drug treatment, why did you choose that over surgery to clear the blockage? Why did you choose it over an operation to widen my artery so that more blood can pass through (known as coronary angioplasty)?
If I had surgery or coronary angioplasty, why did you choose that over drug treatment?
Will I have to take drugs for the rest of my life?
When can I go home?
What are my chances of having another heart attack?
What things can I do to keep from having another heart attack?
When will I be able get back to work or my hobbies?
Will my children be more likely to have a heart attack when they're older?

This information was last updated on Nov 10, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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