Medications are often the first line of defense against heart and vascular disease. While not the cure for these conditions, in many cases they can make the symptoms less bothersome.

Taking your medication(s) daily as prescribed by your physician is essential for maximum effectiveness. Do not skip a dose, or start or stop taking any medicine without talking with your physician or nurse. Starting a new medication without your physician’s approval may affect how your medications work, or cause the side effects of your medications to worsen.

Use a chart or list to keep track of all medications you are taking and when you take them. Record the name and dose of each medication, and how many of each medication is to be taken. This will help you avoid making mistakes and also makes it easier to track changes to your list. Be sure to bring this list to all of your medical appointments to save time for yourself and your physician.