Lesson 1Targeted review of systems to differentiate cardiac, pulmonary, GI, musculoskeletal causesYou will practise a focused check of body systems to tell heart problems from lung, stomach, or muscle issues, using key questions that narrow down causes without holding up urgent help.
Cardiac ROS for ischemia and pericarditisPulmonary ROS for PE and pneumothoraxGastrointestinal ROS for reflux and ulcerMusculoskeletal and chest wall questionsPrior similar episodes and chronicityLesson 2Open-ended and presenting complaint questions (onset, character, radiation, severity, duration)This part shows how to start the talk openly, use guiding questions, then pin down start time, feel, spread, strength, and length of pain. We stress no bias, getting timelines right, and rating pain properly.
Building rapport and opening the interviewUsing open-ended questions for chest painClarifying onset and temporal patternCharacter, location, and radiation of painSeverity scales and impact on functionLesson 3Associated symptoms (dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, syncope, palpitations)You will learn to carefully ask about shortness of breath, sweating, feeling sick, fainting, and heart flutters, and understand symptom mixes pointing to heart attack, irregular beat, or other issues.
Characterizing dyspnea and orthopneaDiaphoresis and autonomic activationNausea, vomiting, and epigastric painSyncope, presyncope, and red flagsPalpitations and arrhythmia cluesLesson 4Social history and substance use (smoking quantity, alcohol, recreational drugs, occupational, recent travel)Here you will explore smoking amount, drink, party drugs, job, and recent trips. We focus on how these link to heart risks, lung clots, and other chest pain reasons.
Quantifying tobacco exposure in pack-yearsAlcohol intake and cardiomyopathy riskCocaine and stimulant-associated ischemiaOccupational and environmental exposuresTravel history and venous thromboembolismLesson 5Family history of premature cardiovascular disease or sudden deathYou will learn key family details that raise risk, how to ask about early heart disease and sudden passing, and note ages, conditions, and relations clearly with care.
Defining premature cardiovascular diseaseKey questions about sudden cardiac deathDocumenting affected relatives and agesHereditary lipid and cardiomyopathy cluesHandling sensitive family discussionsLesson 6Recent infections, trauma, or surgeries and thromboembolic risk factors (immobility, cancer, estrogen use)You will connect recent sickness, injury, or operations to chest pain causes, spotting clot risks like not moving, cancer, or birth control pills that suggest lung clots.
Recent respiratory or systemic infectionsChest trauma and musculoskeletal injuryPostoperative and immobilization risksCancer, estrogen, and thrombophilia historyWhen to suspect pulmonary embolismLesson 7Provoking/relieving factors and timing (exertion, position, meals, respiration)This covers how effort, body position, food, and breathing affect chest pain. You will tell heart squeeze, heart sack swelling, acid reflux, and lung lining pain by triggers, relief, and daily patterns.
Exertional angina and demand ischemiaPositional clues to pericardial diseaseMeal-related and reflux-associated painRespiratory and pleuritic pain patternsNocturnal and rest pain red flagsLesson 8Past medical history and cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, prior coronary disease)This reviews getting past health and heart risks like high blood pressure, high fats, sugar sickness, and old heart issues, and how they change starting odds and speed needed.
Documenting prior coronary eventsHypertension and end-organ damage historyHyperlipidemia and treatment adherenceDiabetes, kidney disease, and riskOther vascular and stroke historyLesson 9Medication, allergy, and anticoagulation history (current meds, aspirin/statin use, allergies)This focuses on exact drug lists, including shop-bought ones, blood thinners, fat pills, and clot stoppers, plus spotting allergies and bad reactions key for sharp chest pain care.
Verifying current prescription medicationsOver-the-counter and herbal productsAntiplatelet, statin, and anticoagulant useClarifying true drug allergies vs side effectsImplications for acute chest pain therapyLesson 10How to document and phrase questions clearly and compassionately for exam reports and handoversThis teaches clear question wording, no big words, and keeping kindness. Practise note structure, key yes/no points, short exam reports, and safe shift handovers.
Using patient-centered, nonjudgmental languageStructuring focused chest pain questionsSummarizing key positives and negativesWriting concise exam notes and reportsSafe, structured handover communication
