Lesson 1Targeted review of systems to differentiate cardiac, pulmonary, GI, musculoskeletal causesYou'll practise checking body systems to tell heart problems from lung, stomach, or muscle pains, using key questions that narrow causes fast 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)Here we cover starting chats openly, then pinning down when pain started, how it feels, where it spreads, how bad, and how long, while staying fair and noting times right.
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'll learn to ask step-by-step about shortness of breath, sweating, vomiting feeling, fainting, and heart flutters, spotting mixes that point to heart attacks 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)We'll explore smoking amounts, booze, street drugs, job risks, and recent trips, linking them to heart or lung clot dangers in chest pain cases.
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 deathLearn key family details that raise risks, how to ask about early heart disease or sudden passing kindly, and record ages, illnesses, and kin clearly.
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)Connect recent sicknesses, injuries, or operations to chest pains, spotting clot risks like staying still, cancer, or birth control pills that hint at 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)See how work, body position, food, or breathing changes chest pain to spot heart squeeze, heart sack swelling, acid reflux, or lung lining pain by triggers 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)Gather old illnesses and heart risks like high blood pressure, high fats, sugar sickness, past heart issues, and how they shift 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)Get exact drug lists including shop buys, blood thinners, fat pills, and spot allergies key for sharp chest pain handling.
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 handoversLearn plain question wording, skip hard terms, keep kindness; practise notes, key yes/no points, short 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
