Lesson 1Targeted review of systems to differentiate cardiac, pulmonary, GI, musculoskeletal causesYou'll practise a focused check of body systems to tell apart heart, lung, stomach, and muscle causes, using key questions that narrow options fast without holding up emergency 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 part shows how to start the chat openly, then pin down start time, feel, spread, strength, and length of pain. Focus is on staying fair, noting timelines, and rating pain 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, nausea, fainting, and irregular heartbeat, and read symptom mixes pointing 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'll explore smoking amount, booze, party drugs, job, and recent trips. Key is tying these to heart risks, lung clots, and other chest pain triggers.
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 deathYou'll learn which family details up the risk, how to ask about early heart disease and sudden passing, and record ages, conditions, and links clearly 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'll connect recent bugs, injuries, or ops to chest pain causes, spotting clot risks like staying still, cancer, and hormone pills that flag 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 covers how effort, posture, food, and breathing change chest pain. You'll spot angina, 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 reviews pulling past health and heart risks like high blood pressure, high fats, sugar sickness, and old 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)Focus here is getting exact med lists, including shop buys, blood thinners, fat pills, and clot stoppers, plus allergies and bad reactions 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 handoversThis teaches clear question wording, no fancy terms, with kindness. Practise note structure, 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
