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 starts it, and other signs, to spot heart, lung, muscle, or stomach problems and plan next actions.
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 explains focused checks for urinary and hormone issues linked to heart and metabolic diseases, including frequent urination, thirst, night urination, 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 shows how to get accurate details on medicines, allergies, and supplements, including over-the-counter drugs, herbs, and pain relievers, stressing interactions, blood pressure impacts, sticking to treatment, and recording for safe prescribing in Namibia.
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 covers spotting warning signs in symptoms and time patterns, like quick worsening, fainting, coughing blood, leg swelling, and fever, and building timelines to help sort problems, diagnose, and act fast in primary care.
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 deals with checking daily functions and thinking skills in heart and metabolic care, covering daily tasks, mood checks, thinking, and health understanding, to find limits that affect health outlook, joint 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 part explains assessing social factors and habits that affect heart and lung risks, including smoking history, alcohol checks, eating, sleep, and work activity, and how to record and advise patients well in Namibian 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 part reviews getting targeted heart risk and past health details, including high blood pressure, high fats, known heart disease, stroke, poor leg circulation, diabetes, and medicine sticking, to gauge risk and fit prevention and treatment.
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 organized checks for shortness of breath and effort tiredness, including start, triggers, lying-down breathing, night attacks, effort breathing, and usual function, to tell apart heart, lung, or other causes and set urgency.
Characterizing onset, pattern, and progressionOrthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspneaQuantifying DOE and activity limitationsComparing current status to prior baselineDistinguishing cardiac from pulmonary dyspnea
