What should I do now?
Call 911
Call 911 for new or unexplained chest pressure that persists or returns, severe trouble breathing, collapse without normal recovery, or sudden face/arm weakness or trouble speaking. Do not drive yourself.
Contact your care team
Contact your care team promptly for increasing breathlessness, reduced activity, or needing more pillows at night.
Keep your care plan
Track changes and follow your medication and activity plan.
SECTION 6
Preparing for your appointment
Describe what has changed
- When did symptoms start: suddenly or gradually?
- How far can you walk now compared with before?
- Does breathlessness occur at rest, when lying flat, or during sleep?
- Do you also have swelling, weight changes, chest discomfort, palpitations, cough, or wheezing?
Bring your medicines and records
Bring a medication list with doses, supplements, and allergies. Include recent hospital records and previous heart or lung test results. If you already track weight, blood pressure, pulse, or oxygen levels, bring those readings too.
Questions to ask
- Is the cause related to my heart, lungs, or something else?
- Which tests are needed?
- What should each treatment improve?
- What activity is safe?
- Which changes should prompt a call or emergency care?
- When should I follow up?
If you have heart failure, ask how often to weigh yourself and which weight or symptom changes to report. Make sure you know whom to contact if symptoms worsen or medicines cause problems.
Do not delay emergency care to collect readings or prepare for an appointment.
Sources: NHLBI: Appointment preparation · NHLBI: Your care plan
Updated October 2026. Educational information; your own care plan may differ. Medical illustrations are simplified examples for teaching.