Clinical Skills

Question 1

What are the Cardinal Cardiovascular Symptoms?

Answer 1

• Chest pain - SQITAS
• Palpitations
• SOB /Dyspnoea
• Reduced exercise tolerance - How far can you walk
• Orthopnoea - How many pillows do you use?
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
• Peripheral oedema
• Intermittent Claudication/Cold limbs - Peripheral vascular disease
• Collapse/Dizziness
• May also ask Respiratory Qs
• Red Flag Check

Question 2

What are the Red Flag Symptoms?

Answer 2

• Lumps/bumps anywhere? Breast, neck, tummy, skin
• Blood loss/bleeding?
• Change in bowel habit?
• Change in weight or appetite?
• Any nausea or vomiting?
• General symptoms?

Question 3

What are the Cardinal Respiratory Symptoms?

Answer 3

• Dyspnoea
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Wheeze, stridor, snoring, pauses in breathing
• Cough
• Sputum production (volume, consistency, colour, blood)
• Haemoptysis
• Pleuritic chest pain - (sharp pain on deep inspiration)
• Hoarseness of voice
• Fever
• Suspecting COVID-19 - Change in sense of taste (dysgeusia) or loss of smell (anosmia)

Question 4

What are the Cardinal Gastro-intestinal Symptoms?

Answer 4

• Mouth ulcers
• Dysphagia
• Heartburn /Indigestion (GORD)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Haematemesis
• Jaundice (skin/urine/stool colour)
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Abdominal masses
• Change in appetite/weight loss
• Change in bowel habit
• Rectal bleeding/rectal mucous
• Tenesmus (feel need to pass stool but bowels empty)
• Faecal incontinence

Question 5

What are the Cardinal Genito-urinary symptoms?

Answer 5

• Dysuria, frequency, strong smelling urine
• Nocturia
• Haematuria
• Urinary incontinence
• Hesitancy, poor urinary stream, terminal dribbling
• Genitalia - Discomfort/itching/lesions
• Vaginal/penile discharge
• Sexual dysfunction
• Dyspareunia
• Consider sexual history

Question 6

What are the Cardinal Thyroid /Endocrine Symptoms?

Answer 6

• Intolerance to heat/cold
• Weight loss/gain
• Fatigue
• Hair - Quality, alopecia
• Sweating, palpitations, headache
• Skin changes
• Changes to menstrual cycle
• Oedema
• Swelling around neck / Goitre
• Change in bowel habits
• Change in appetite
• Check red flags