Lesson 1Directed chest pain history: characteristics, radiation, duration, exertional vs rest, associated symptoms (diaphoresis, nausea, syncope)This part teaches a clear way to ask about chest pain in Gambian clinics, covering where it hurts, 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.
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 section covers key checks for urine and hormone issues linked to heart and metabolic diseases in Gambia, like frequent urination, thirst, night wakes, erection problems, weight shifts, and family diabetes history to find hidden or uncontrolled conditions.
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 part explains how to carefully review medicines, allergies, and supplements in Gambian patients, including over-the-counter drugs, local herbs, and pain relievers, noting interactions, blood pressure changes, sticking to plans, and safe prescribing records.
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 section teaches spotting danger signs and time patterns in symptoms for Gambian care, like quick worsening, fainting, coughing blood, leg swelling, and fever, and building timelines to sort urgencies, diagnoses, and referrals.
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 part looks at daily function and thinking checks in heart and metabolic care in Gambia, covering daily tasks, mood screens, brain function, and health understanding to spot limits affecting health outlook, choices, and treatment follow-through.
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 section shows how to check social and habit factors shaping heart and lung risks in Gambia, like smoking history, alcohol checks, eating, sleep, and work activity, plus documenting and advising patients well.
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 part reviews asking about heart risks and old health issues in Gambian patients, including high blood pressure, high fats, known heart disease, strokes, leg artery problems, diabetes, and medicine sticking, to gauge risks and fit prevention plans.
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 section focuses on checking breathlessness and effort tiredness in Gambia, covering start, lying-down breathing, night attacks, effort triggers, activity levels, and past function to tell heart, lung, or other causes and urgency.
Characterizing onset, pattern, and progressionOrthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspneaQuantifying DOE and activity limitationsComparing current status to prior baselineDistinguishing cardiac from pulmonary dyspnea
