Build a medication routine you can stick to: know your medicines, use reminders and pill organizers, avoid interactions, and never stop a med without your doctor.

Taking your medications is necessary to manage heart disease and reduce the risk of heart events like a heart attack. It can be hard to adjust to taking many medications, but with a proper routine you can successfully manage them. So how do you get into a medication routine? First, know what medicines you are taking and take all of them as prescribed. Make sure you also know when you should take each medicine and why they help your heart. Medications are prescribed based on your needs.

The goals of medication therapy are: one, to improve or control symptoms such as chest pain or angina, or to improve risk factors such as cholesterol or blood pressure; two, to improve overall quality of life by reducing the workload on the heart; three, to slow or stop the disease process, such as slowing the buildup of plaque within the arteries; and four, to reduce the risk of another heart attack or other cardiac event. Both medications and lifestyle changes work together to help reduce the risk of future health problems.

Second, make a plan to take your medications. Just like any other habit you have in your life, taking your medications is a daily task you can do to manage your health. Try to take your medications at the same time or times every day. Set an alert on your phone. Take them along with other daily habits, like brushing your teeth. Put a Post-it note on the refrigerator so you don't forget. Use colorful labels on your medication bottles — for example, label bottles yellow for morning and blue for evening. Use a pill organizer, and make sure you take the time to refill it on a weekly, every-two-weeks, or even monthly basis.

Third, keep your doctor's and pharmacist's numbers on hand. If you begin having any side effects, or believe that a medication is not working for you, please call your doctor with your concerns. Please do not stop taking your medication unless your doctor tells you to do so. Try to always use the same pharmacy for all of your medications. Come up with a calendar or reminder for refills, or use the automatic refill reminder service through your pharmacy so that you do not run out. Also, before buying or taking a new medication, over-the-counter medication, or supplement, ask your doctor or the pharmacist to make sure no interaction could occur with your currently prescribed medications. Lastly, have a backup plan in case of an emergency. Some common questions are:

What happens if I skip or miss a dose of my medication? What happens if I accidentally take an extra dose? We are all human and we make mistakes — these things are bound to happen on occasion, but you will want to call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions and to get help if needed. Make sure to monitor yourself for any side effects from medicines, and let your doctor and care manager know about them as soon as possible. So, to get into a medication routine: make sure you are familiar with your medications, make a plan for taking them, keep your doctor's and pharmacist's numbers on hand, and know what to do in case you have side effects. Getting into a medication routine can help you manage heart disease, reduce the risk of heart events, and feel better.

It is crucial that you take your medications as prescribed and do not stop taking them unless you have been told to by your doctor. If you have any questions, please contact your doctor or pharmacist for more information. You can also chat with your care manager in the Movn app for general information and tips. Thank you for watching "How to Get Into a Medication Routine."