Lesson 1Haematologic causes: iron deficiency anaemia, B12 deficiency, haemolysis — exam and history cluesExplores blood-related causes such as iron-lack anaemia, B12 shortage, and blood breakdown, spotlighting risks, main history and exam hints, targeted lab checks, and needs for urgent blood or specialist help.
Microcytic anaemia and iron deficiency cluesMacrocytosis and B12 or folate deficiencyRecognising haemolysis patterns and triggersInterpreting CBC, smear, and haemolysis labsWhen to transfuse or call haematologyLesson 2Formulating an initial broad differential: cardiac, pulmonary, haematologic, metabolic, infectious, psychiatricShows how to build a starting wide list of possibilities for tiredness and breathlessness across heart, lung, blood, metabolism, infection, and mental health areas, then gradually narrow using history, exam, and basic lab info.
Symptom characterisation and timelinesOrgan-system based differential listsUsing vital signs to guide categoriesFirst-line laboratory and imaging testsIterative narrowing with new dataLesson 3Endocrine and metabolic causes: uncontrolled diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiencyAddresses hormone and body process factors, including out-of-control diabetes, underactive thyroid, and adrenal weakness, stressing subtle signs, screening methods, lab reading, and first stabilisation in the clinic.
Hyperglycaemia and diabetic fatigue patternsHypothyroidism symptoms and exam signsPrimary versus secondary adrenal failureKey endocrine laboratory panelsInitial stabilisation and referral timingLesson 4Prioritisation framework: acuity, prevalence, risk factors, red flagsIntroduces a useful sorting system using seriousness, commonness, patient risks, and warning features to rank possible diagnoses, pick starting tests, and choose clinic, urgent, or emergency care.
Rapid assessment of clinical acuityApplying prevalence to narrow optionsIncorporating individual risk factorsSystematic red-flag checklistLinking priority to disposition levelLesson 5Psychiatric and deconditioning causes and how to identify them clinicallySeparates mental health, sleep issues, and fitness loss causes of tiredness and breathlessness from physical disease, outlining targeted screening, function checks, and plans for counselling, rehab, and monitoring.
Screening for depression and anxietyIdentifying panic-related dyspnoeaRecognising chronic fatigue patternsAssessing baseline fitness and deconditioningBehavioural, rehab, and follow-up plansLesson 6Medication-induced and iatrogenic causes of fatigue and dyspnoeaReviews how prescribed and shop-bought meds, plus medical procedures, can cause tiredness or breathlessness, and teaches a planned way to review med history, spot bad effects, and safely reduce or stop drugs.
Targeted medication history techniquesCommon cardiopulmonary drug side effectsSedatives, opioids, and respiratory depressionChemotherapy, radiation, and fatigue syndromesRecognising post-procedural complicationsLesson 7Cardiac causes: ischaemia, heart failure, valvular disease — typical presentations and atypical signsCovers blood flow lack, heart weakness, and valve problems as tiredness and breathlessness causes, stressing usual versus unusual signs, key exam findings, first tests, and when to send urgently to heart specialist or emergency.
Anginal and anginal-equivalent symptomsHeart failure phenotypes and stagingValvular murmurs linked to symptomsECG, troponin, and natriuretic peptidesIndications for urgent cardiology referralLesson 8Pulmonary causes: COPD/asthma exacerbation, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia — when to suspect eachDetails main lung causes of tiredness and breathlessness, including COPD and asthma flare-ups, lung clot, and lung infection, focusing on triggers, unique features, bedside tests, and limits for scans or hospital stay.
History clues for COPD and asthma flaresWhen to suspect pulmonary embolismTypical and atypical pneumonia featuresUse of pulse oximetry and peak flowImaging choices: X-ray versus CT angiographyLesson 9Approach to balancing common versus dangerous diagnoses in clinicExplains how to balance everyday harmless causes against rare but risky conditions in outpatient care, using starting odds, warnings, and joint decisions to direct test depth and monitoring plans.
Estimating pretest probability at the bedsideUsing red flags to up-triage riskAvoiding overtesting low-risk patientsSafety-netting and close follow-up plansShared decision-making about evaluation
