Heart failure means the heart is not pumping or filling well enough for the body's needs. Patients can ask what type of heart failure they have, what the ejection fraction is, what caused it, which medications are recommended, whether devices or procedures are being considered, and what symptoms should prompt urgent care.
How to use this guide
Use this article to prepare for a conversation with your treating doctor or to decide whether a doctor-reviewed second opinion may help. It is educational and does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace medical care.
Questions to bring forward
- What decision am I trying to make right now?
- Which records support the current recommendation?
- What are the benefits, risks, and alternatives?
- What would change the recommendation?