Lesson 1Directed chest pain history: characteristics, radiation, duration, exertional vs rest, associated symptoms (diaphoresis, nausea, syncope)This lesson 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 triggers it, and other signs, to tell apart 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 lesson covers key checks for urine and hormone issues linked to heart and metabolic diseases, like frequent urination, thirst, night waking to pee, erection problems, weight shifts, and family diabetes history, to spot hidden or uncontrolled conditions early.
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 lesson shows how to carefully review medicines, allergies, and supplements patients take, including over-the-counter drugs, local herbs, and pain relievers, highlighting risks, blood pressure impacts, sticking to plans, and safe prescribing notes.
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 lesson helps spot danger signs in symptoms and their timing, like sudden changes, fainting, coughing blood, leg swelling, and fever, and how to build timelines for sorting problems, deciding urgency, and quick action in busy clinics.
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 lesson deals with checking daily functions and thinking skills in heart and metabolic care, covering basic tasks, mood checks, brain function, and health understanding, to find limits affecting 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 lesson explains assessing life factors and habits that affect heart and lung risks, like smoking history, alcohol checks using simple tools, eating patterns, sleep quality, and work activity, plus how to record and advise 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 lesson reviews gathering heart risk and past health details, including high blood pressure, high fats, known heart disease, strokes, leg vessel issues, diabetes, and medicine sticking, to gauge risks and customize prevention and care 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 lesson centers on checking breathlessness and effort tiredness, including start, lying-down breathing trouble, night attacks, effort triggers, activity levels, and past norms, to separate heart, lung, or other causes and decide care speed.
Characterizing onset, pattern, and progressionOrthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspneaQuantifying DOE and activity limitationsComparing current status to prior baselineDistinguishing cardiac from pulmonary dyspnea
