Lesson 1History of present illness: chronological building, start, length, exertion pattern, triggers, worseningExplains how to build the history of current illness for exertional shortness of breath, stressing start, length, exertion pattern, triggers, worsening, and past checks, to create a clear, time-connected sign story.
Defining onset, tempo, and first episodeCharacterizing exertional thresholds and limitsIdentifying triggers and relieving maneuversDocumenting progression and stepwise changesPrior tests, treatments, and responsesSynthesizing a chronological symptom timelineLesson 2Family history questions aimed at heart-lung, blood clot, and inherited lung sicknessShows how to check family history related to exertional shortness of breath, focusing on heart muscle diseases, irregular heartbeats, blood clot sickness, and inherited lung problems, with phrasing that boosts reliability and uncovers hidden family risk patterns.
Cardiac family history and premature sudden deathInherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathiesFamilial thromboembolic and clotting disordersHereditary pulmonary hypertension patternsGenetic lung diseases and early respiratory failurePedigree building and red flag clusteringLesson 3Relieving and worsening factors: position, medicines, effort, surroundings exposuresDescribes how to check relieving and worsening factors for exertional shortness of breath, including position, medicines, effort level, and surroundings exposures, and how these patterns help tell apart heart, lung, and body function causes.
Postural changes and orthopnea assessmentExercise intensity and exertional thresholdsMedication timing, relief, and side effectsEnvironmental and occupational exposuresTemporal patterns and day to night variationIntegrating patterns into pathophysiologic cluesLesson 4Medicine, allergy, and vaccine questions with phrasing for truthShows how to ask about medicines, allergies, and vaccines in patients with exertional shortness of breath, using exact phrasing to better recall, spot interactions, and find avoidable lung or heart problems.
Current prescription and over the counter drugsInhalers, oxygen, and adherence assessmentDrug and food allergies with reaction detailsVaccine history for influenza and pneumococcusCOVID and other relevant immunizationsIdentifying interactions and contraindicationsLesson 5Social history question guides: smoking (pack-years), job, surroundings exposures, alcohol, fun drugs, body activity levelGives guides for social history focused on exertional shortness of breath, covering smoking with pack-year count, job, surroundings exposures, alcohol, fun drugs, and body activity level, stressing risk grouping and shame-free phrasing.
Smoking history, pack‑years, and cessationOccupational dust, fumes, and irritant exposureHousehold and environmental inhalational risksAlcohol intake patterns and cardiopulmonary riskRecreational drugs and route of useBaseline physical activity and functional classLesson 6Structure and aims of patient history: identification, main complaint, consent phrasingIntroduces the overall structure and aims of patient history in exertional shortness of breath, including patient identification, main complaint wording, and clear, right consent phrasing that builds trust and sets a focused, quick interview.
Patient identification and demographic contextFormulating and recording the chief complaintExplaining purpose and scope of the interviewInformed consent and confidentiality wordingSetting agenda and time framing with patientBalancing open listening with focused inquiryLesson 7Questions for linked symptoms: lying flat breath trouble, sudden night breath trouble, chest pain, cough, wheeze, blood cough, fainting, heart fluttersFocuses on steadily drawing out key linked symptoms with exertional shortness of breath, like lying flat breath trouble, sudden night breath trouble, chest pain, cough, wheeze, blood cough, fainting, and heart flutters, with phrasing that sharpens diagnosis meaning.
Orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspneaCharacterizing exertional and resting chest painCough, sputum, and wheeze characterizationHemoptysis severity and red flag featuresSyncope, presyncope, and exertional dizzinessPalpitations, rhythm description, and triggersLesson 8Past health history checking: heart, lung, kidney, thyroid, blood, body process, and mind health conditionsCovers aimed past health history for breath trouble, highlighting heart, lung, kidney, hormone, blood, body process, and mind health conditions, and how each changes pre-test chance, outlook, and treatment safety in effort symptoms.
Cardiovascular diseases and prior cardiac testingChronic lung disorders and prior exacerbationsRenal disease, volume status, and anemia linksThyroid dysfunction and exercise intoleranceHematologic and metabolic contributors to dyspneaPsychiatric comorbidity and symptom perceptionLesson 9Aimed body systems review: standard phrasing for lung, heart, whole body (fevers, weight drop), and mind symptoms to spot difference cluesExplains how to do an aimed body systems review using standard, patient-friendly wording for lung, heart, whole body, and mind symptoms, aiming to uncover missed clues, linked sicknesses, and warning signs that sharpen the difference.
Respiratory ROS for chronic and acute symptomsCardiac ROS for ischemia and heart failureSystemic ROS for fever, weight loss, night sweatsPsychiatric ROS for anxiety and panic featuresStandardized phrasing to reduce ambiguityPrioritizing and documenting positive findingsLesson 10Exact question guides for main complaint and starting promptsPresents exact starting prompts and main complaint questions fitted to exertional shortness of breath, balancing open and closed styles, cutting suggestion, and setting a team tone that encourages true, detailed symptom stories.
Neutral openers for first patient statementsClarifying the main breathing concernExploring patient expectations and fearsAvoiding leading or judgmental questionsTransitioning from open to focused inquiryChecking understanding with patient summaries
