Lesson 1Targeted review of systems to differentiate cardiac, pulmonary, GI, musculoskeletal causesYou will practise a targeted review of systems to separate heart from lung, stomach, and muscle causes, focusing on key questions that narrow the possibilities without delaying urgent care.
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 section explains how to start the interview, use open questions, then clarify start time, nature, spread, intensity, and length. Focus is on avoiding bias, noting timelines, 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 ask systematically about shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, and irregular heartbeat, and interpret symptom mixes that point to heart attack, rhythm issues, or other diagnoses.
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 learn to check smoking, alcohol, and hard drugs, plus job and recent travel. Focus is on connecting these to heart risk, lung clots, and other chest pain causes.
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 deathHere you will learn which family history raises risk, how to ask about early heart disease and sudden death, and record ages, conditions, and relations clearly and 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 learn to connect recent infections, injuries, or operations to chest pain causes, and spot clot risks like staying still, cancer, and hormone use 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 section covers how effort, position, food, and breathing affect chest pain. You will learn to tell apart heart squeeze, heart sac inflammation, acid reflux, and lung lining pain by checking 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 section reviews how to get past health history and heart risk factors like high blood pressure, high fats, sugar sickness, and past heart issues, and how they affect starting odds and urgency.
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 section focuses on getting an exact drug list, including shop-bought ones, blood thinners, fat pills, and clot stoppers, and spotting allergies and past bad reactions for 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 section teaches how to word questions simply, skip hard terms, and show kindness. You will practise organising notes, summing key yes/no points, and writing short exam reports and safe handovers.
Using patient-centered, nonjudgmental languageStructuring focused chest pain questionsSummarizing key positives and negativesWriting concise exam notes and reportsSafe, structured handover communication
