These are concerns that people with heart failure often have. They may help you draw up a list of questions for your physician or healthcare team.

• What's my or my family member's diagnosis? Is the heart failure mild? Moderate? Severe?
• What should we expect within the next few weeks, months and years? How is the condition likely to progress?
• What are some specific ways that daily life will change? Can I or my family member still work, play golf, have sex, do the laundry? (fill in whatever activity you're wondering about)
• What are the three most important things we can do to manage this condition?
• What strategies have other patients found useful for motivating themselves to eat better, exercise, stop smoking, etc.?
• What will happen if I or my loved one slips back into old habits?
• Do you recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program? If so, where will it take place? How often?
• We're having trouble keeping the medication schedule straight. Is there any way we can simplify it?
• A certain medication (name it) is causing side effects that are hard to deal with. Is there some way to minimize those side effects? Is there another equally good medication available?
• What if the health insurance plan doesn't cover the treatment or medication you're recommending? What's our next step?
• If any symptoms seem to get worse or change suddenly, what's the best way for us to contact you?