Lesson 1Directed chest pain history: characteristics, radiation, duration, exertional vs rest, associated symptoms (diaphoresis, nausea, syncope)This part teaches a clear, step-by-step way to ask about chest pain, covering where it is, how it feels, where it spreads, how long it lasts, what triggers it, and other signs, to spot heart, lung, muscle, or stomach problems and plan next steps in Botswana clinics.
Location, quality, and radiation of chest painOnset, duration, and temporal pain patternsExertional, positional, and pleuritic featuresAssociated symptoms: diaphoresis, nausea, syncopeDifferentiating cardiac from noncardiac painLesson 2Genitourinary and endocrine screening: polyuria, polydipsia, nocturia, ED, weight changes, family history of diabetesThis part covers key checks for urinary and hormone issues linked to heart and metabolic diseases, like frequent urination, thirst, night waking to urinate, erection problems, weight shifts, and family diabetes history, to find hidden or uncontrolled conditions in Botswana patients.
Polyuria, polydipsia, and hyperglycemia cluesNocturia patterns and volume status assessmentErectile dysfunction and vascular riskUnintentional weight loss or gain patternsFamily history of diabetes and endocrine diseaseLesson 3Medication, allergy, and supplement review: OTCs, herbal remedies, NSAID use and potential BP effectsThis section shows how to carefully review medicines, allergies, and supplements, including over-the-counter drugs, local herbs, and pain relievers, stressing interactions, blood pressure changes, sticking to plans, and safe prescribing notes for Botswana primary care.
Systematic prescription medication reconciliationIdentifying and classifying drug allergiesOTC and herbal supplement interaction risksNSAID use, fluid retention, and BP elevationAssessing adherence and barriers to regimensLesson 4Symptom red flags and timeline: sudden worsening, syncope, hemoptysis, lower-extremity swelling, feverThis part discusses spotting danger signs in symptoms and their timing, like sudden changes, fainting, coughing blood, leg swelling, and fever, and building timelines to help sort diagnoses, decide urgency, and act quickly in Botswana settings.
Eliciting sudden versus gradual symptom onsetRecognizing syncope and presyncope red flagsHemoptysis, fever, and infection concernsLower-extremity swelling and volume overloadConstructing a clear symptom chronologyLesson 5Functional and cognitive screening: activities of daily living, depression/anxiety screening, cognition relevant to shared decision-making and adherenceThis section looks at checking daily functions and thinking skills in heart and metabolic care, covering daily tasks, mood checks, brain function, and health understanding, to find limits affecting outcomes, joint decisions, and treatment follow-through in Botswana.
Assessing ADLs and instrumental ADLsScreening for depression and anxiety symptomsBrief cognitive screening tools in practiceEvaluating health literacy and understandingLinking function and cognition to adherenceLesson 6Social determinants and behavioral risk factors: tobacco use history (pack-years), alcohol use screening (AUDIT-C principles), diet, sleep, occupational activityThis part explains assessing social and lifestyle factors affecting heart and lung risks, like smoking history, alcohol checks using simple tools, eating habits, sleep, and work activity, plus how to record and advise patients well in Botswana communities.
Assessing tobacco history and pack-year calculationScreening alcohol use with AUDIT-C principlesEvaluating diet quality and cardiometabolic impactSleep duration, quality, and cardiopulmonary effectsOccupational activity, sedentary time, and workloadLesson 7Cardiovascular risk and past medical history: prior hypertension, hyperlipidemia, known CAD, stroke, PAD, medications and adherenceThis section reviews gathering heart risk and past health info, including high blood pressure, high fats, known heart disease, strokes, leg artery issues, diabetes, and medicine sticking, to gauge risks and customize prevention and care in Botswana.
Documenting hypertension and BP control historyHyperlipidemia, statin use, and lipid goalsPrior CAD, MI, revascularization, and anginaHistory of stroke, TIA, and peripheral artery diseaseDiabetes, CKD, and other risk-enhancing factorsLesson 8Dyspnea and exertional intolerance: onset, orthopnea, PND, DOE, activity level quantification, prior baseline functionThis part centers on checking shortness of breath and effort limits, including start, lying-down breathing trouble, night attacks, effort triggers, activity levels, and past norms, to separate heart, lung, or other causes and set evaluation urgency in local care.
Characterizing onset, pattern, and progressionOrthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspneaQuantifying DOE and activity limitationsComparing current status to prior baselineDistinguishing cardiac from pulmonary dyspnea
