History taking

Question 1

Cardiovascular questions

Answer 1

• CP
• Palpitations
• SOB Orthoponea & PND
• Oedema
• Cold legs/ pain on walking

Question 2

Respiratory

Answer 2

• SOB
• Cough +/- sputum colour & blood
• Wheeze, Stridor
• Chest pain- pleuritic pain

Question 3

GI

Answer 3

• Swallow difficulties
• N&V
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal mass
• Bowel habit & blood
• Weight loss/ appetite change

Question 4

Neurological

Answer 4

• Headache, Fits, Faints, Blackouts, Dizzy
• Hearing loss (including tinnitus)
• Other senses loss- smell, taste, touch, vision
• Numbness/ tingling
• Weakness
• Change in mood/ thoughts

Question 5

GU

Answer 5

• Difficulty urinating, how much?
• Day vs Night?
• Any blood?
• Pelvic pain?
• Discharge
• LMP

Question 6

Diabetes/ Endo

Answer 6

• Polydipsia, Polyuria, Weight loss, Thrush/ itching
• Heat intolerance, Weight gain/ loss, Neck swelling
• Adrenal insufficiency: Weakness, fatigue, dizzy on standing, Abdo pain
• PCOS: Excess/thick hair, Irregular periods, Infertility, Weight gain
• Cushing’s syndrome: Weight gain, Weakness, Infection, Easy bruising
• LH/FSH deficiency: Amenorrhea/ Oligomenorrhoea, Infertility, Lack of libido, Dysparaunia, Breast atrophy, Loss of secondary sexual hair OR Low libido/ ED, Testicular atrophy, Infertility,
• GH excess: Visual field loss, Enlargement of tissues, Arthritis
• Catecholoamine excess: Sweating, Anxious, Palpitations, Headaches

Question 7

MSK/ Skin

Answer 7

• Joint pain, swelling & stiffness- when and how long for
• Muscle pain & weakness
• Tingling/ Numbness
• Skin lesions
• Falls/ difficulties with ADLs