Make the most of every appointment — whether you are newly diagnosed, starting a new medication, facing a procedure, or managing a long-term heart condition. The right questions genuinely change the conversation.
📄 Download Print-Ready PDF"Consultations can feel rushed — and patients often leave having forgotten the question they most needed to ask. Thinking about your questions in advance, writing them down, and bringing them to your appointment genuinely changes the quality of the conversation."
"This is especially true for those living with chronic heart conditions, where what happens between appointments matters as much as what happens during them. You deserve to leave every appointment feeling informed and confident."
Prof. Peter Barlis — Interventional Cardiologist & Founding Editor
Choose the section that best matches where you are right now — tap any card to reveal the questions.
Pick two or three questions that feel most relevant and write them down before your appointment.
Bring a support person if you can — a second pair of ears helps enormously when information is complex.
Always ask your doctor to slow down, repeat something, or write down key points to take home.
Tap or click any card to reveal questions for that situation. Choose the ones most relevant to you and bring them to your next appointment.
I've just been told I have a heart condition
I've been started on a new cardiac medication
I'm having a cardiac procedure or intervention
I'm attending a routine cardiology follow-up
I've been discharged after a cardiac event
I'm not feeling right between appointments
Your cardiologist and GP are essential — but they are not your only resource. Several other members of your healthcare team are highly accessible and underutilised, particularly for medication and day-to-day management questions.
Your Pharmacist
Pharmacists are among the most accessible and underutilised members of the healthcare team. They are experts in medications — including side effects, interactions, and what to do if you miss a dose. For medication questions especially, your pharmacist is an excellent first point of call. No appointment needed.
Practice Nurse
Practice nurses at your GP clinic can assist with blood pressure monitoring, blood tests, medication reviews, wound care after a procedure, and general heart health check-ins. They are a valuable and accessible resource for ongoing management between specialist appointments.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Team
If you have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, or other cardiac event, cardiac rehabilitation programmes provide structured support from nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and psychologists. Ask your cardiologist or GP for a referral — the evidence for its benefit is compelling.
Reputable Health Websites
Reputable sites — including Heart Matters, the Heart Foundation, and health authority websites — can help you understand your condition and prepare better questions. Use them to inform your conversations with your healthcare team, not to replace them.
If you leave an appointment feeling unclear, unsatisfied, or that your concerns have not been adequately addressed — it is entirely reasonable to say so, to ask for more time, or to request a second opinion. If your GP has not referred you to a specialist and you believe you need one, it is appropriate to ask directly for that referral. You are an active participant in your own care — not a passive recipient of it.
Tick off each item as you prepare — a little preparation makes a significant difference to the quality of the conversation you have with your doctor.
Write down your questions in advance — prioritise the two or three most important
Bring a complete list of all medications, doses, and how often you take them
Note any new symptoms, changes, or concerns since your last appointment
Bring any recent test results, letters, or discharge summaries
Consider bringing a trusted support person to listen and take notes
Know your blood pressure readings if you monitor at home
Write down any side effects you have noticed from medications
Be ready to describe when your symptoms started, how long they last, and what makes them better or worse
Have your Medicare card and any referral letters with you
Know which questions you want answered before you leave
Tick items as you complete them — progress resets when you leave the page. Download the PDF for a printable version.
Doctors use a structured framework when assessing symptoms. Knowing how to describe what you are experiencing in these terms helps your doctor assess you more efficiently — and ensures nothing important is missed.
Location
"Where exactly is it?"
Be specific — centre of the chest, left side, jaw, arm, back. Does it stay in one place or spread?
Character
"What does it feel like?"
Sharp, dull, crushing, squeezing, burning, pressure, tightness, aching. Your own words are fine.
Severity
"How bad is it, 1–10?"
Also describe its impact — does it stop you in your tracks, or is it mild and in the background?
Timing
"When does it happen and how long does it last?"
Constant or comes and goes? Seconds, minutes, hours? Getting better, worse, or staying the same?
Triggers & Relief
"What makes it better or worse?"
Exercise, rest, eating, lying down, stress, cold weather, a particular medication?
Associated Symptoms
"Anything else happening at the same time?"
Breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, swollen ankles — even if it seems unrelated, mention it.
A good consultation is a two-way conversation. You are not expected to accept information passively or leave with unanswered questions. These are your rights as a patient — and exercising them leads to better care.
If you are managing a long-term heart condition, being an active and informed participant in your care is not optional — it is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
If Something Feels Urgent — Act Now
This resource is for planned conversations. If you experience chest pain, sudden breathlessness, facial drooping, arm weakness, or any symptom that feels urgent — do not wait for an appointment. Call emergency services immediately. Australia 000 · UK 999 · USA/Canada 911 · Europe 112.
The content on heartmatters.com is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional about any medical concerns. Heart Matters — heartmatters.com