CVD history pt.1

Question 1

Common presenting symptoms of CVD

Answer 1

• Chest pain (acute or intermittent)
• Dyspnea
• Palpitation
• Syncope and presyncope
• Edema
• Other symptoms

Question 2

What should be asked to a patient presenting with intermittent chest pain?

Answer 2

Ask about:
* Site, onset, severity and character of the pain, and whether the pain radiates anywhere (Ask specifically if moves to the arm, neck, or jaw?)
* associated symptoms such as breathlessness
* aggravating and relieving factors, especially their relationship to exertion
* frequency and duration of symptoms, and any recent change in pattern
* degree of limitation caused by symptoms

Question 3

What should be asked to a patient presenting with dyspnea?

Answer 3

In acute dyspnoea, ask about:
* duration of onset
* background symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and usual
exercise tolerance
* associated symptoms: chest pain, syncope, palpitation or
respiratory symptoms (such as cough, sputum, wheeze or
haemoptysis; p. 79).
In patients with chronic symptoms, ask about:
* relationship between symptoms and exertion
* degree of limitation caused by symptoms and their impact
on everyday activities
* effect of posture on symptoms and/or episodes of
nocturnal breathlessness
* associated symptoms: ankle swelling, cough, wheeze or
sputum