History
The important and most common cardiac symptoms include having:
- Chest pain, discomfort or tightness
- Dyspnoea
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Syncope
The related cardiovascular history including any strokes, peripheral arterial disease, transient ischaemic attacks or peripheral oedema.
Chest Pain
One of the most important symptoms of heart disease is chest pain as it can be difficult to evaluate. The mnemonic PQRST is used to assess chest pain:
Provocative or Palliative: What makes the symptoms worse or better?
Quality: The symptoms are to be described by Mr Bellows. Typical descriptions of chest pain from myocardial ischemia may include: squeezing, tightness, pressure, chest constriction or burning.
Religion or Radiation: Where do the symptoms occur in the body? Is there …show more content…
- Fatigue: which can result from a decreased cardiac output which is usually worse in the evening.
Past Medical History
The patient is to be enquired about any raised blood pressure, dizziness, and heart problems or fainting. It should be noted whether they has been previous heart attacks, angina or cardiac procedures or operations. As well as if previous levels of lipids were ever checked or known. The patient should be asked about having a history of rheumatic fever or heart problems as a child.
Family History
The patient should be asked about any family history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hyperlipidaemia, and congenital heart disease as well as any deaths in the family before the age of 60.
Risk Factors/Lifestyle
The assessment involves asking about the patient’s current lifestyle:
- Smoking
- Healthy or unhealthy diet
- Cholesterol
- Oedema
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Gender
- Inactivity or activity of physical exercise
- Obesity: calculating the BM, an acute weight increase can indicate heart failure and fluid
The important and most common cardiac symptoms include having:
- Chest pain, discomfort or tightness
- Dyspnoea
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Syncope
The related cardiovascular history including any strokes, peripheral arterial disease, transient ischaemic attacks or peripheral oedema.
Chest Pain
One of the most important symptoms of heart disease is chest pain as it can be difficult to evaluate. The mnemonic PQRST is used to assess chest pain:
Provocative or Palliative: What makes the symptoms worse or better?
Quality: The symptoms are to be described by Mr Bellows. Typical descriptions of chest pain from myocardial ischemia may include: squeezing, tightness, pressure, chest constriction or burning.
Religion or Radiation: Where do the symptoms occur in the body? Is there …show more content…
- Fatigue: which can result from a decreased cardiac output which is usually worse in the evening.
Past Medical History
The patient is to be enquired about any raised blood pressure, dizziness, and heart problems or fainting. It should be noted whether they has been previous heart attacks, angina or cardiac procedures or operations. As well as if previous levels of lipids were ever checked or known. The patient should be asked about having a history of rheumatic fever or heart problems as a child.
Family History
The patient should be asked about any family history of hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hyperlipidaemia, and congenital heart disease as well as any deaths in the family before the age of 60.
Risk Factors/Lifestyle
The assessment involves asking about the patient’s current lifestyle:
- Smoking
- Healthy or unhealthy diet
- Cholesterol
- Oedema
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Gender
- Inactivity or activity of physical exercise
- Obesity: calculating the BM, an acute weight increase can indicate heart failure and fluid