A basic Chest, lungs and Heart Medical History functional enquiry. A systems review for Chest Lungs and Heart.

Chest Lungs and Heart Medical History Functional Review

A systems review for Chest Lungs and Heart.

Lung Medical History Review

Ask about:

• Cough: duration; mode of onset; severity; production; constancy; paroxysms; dyspnoea; morning cough; clearing throat.
• Sputum: amount; constant; periods of freedom; influence of posture; character — colour; consistency (stringy, mucoid, chunky); odour; bloodstreaked.
• Haemoptysis: describe fully.  Distinguish from haematemesis and other sources of bleeding — as, from pharynx.
• Sensations in chest: sensation of weight, tightness, dyspnoea.
• History of previous chest illnesses: chest colds (frequency and dura- tion); pleurisy; bronchitis; asthma; pneumonia.
• History of exposure to persons with tuberculosis,

Heart Medical History Review

Ask about: 

• Exercise tolerance; does ordinary exercise cause any distress such as: dyspnoea, praecordial pain, praecordial oppression, or undue fatigue?
  
• If there is any limitation, state concretely the amount of effort that will produce these symptoms. 
  
• Compare recent with previous exercise tolerance.
  Dyspnoea: on exercise; at rest; nocturnal; paroxysmal; asthmatic; sighing.
• Tachycardia (palpitation): on exercise; at rest; duration; mode of on- set; paroxysms.
• Praecordial or substernal pain or other distress: on exercise; at rest; exact location; severity; duration; radiation.  Is it related to breathing?  Turning over in bed?  Stooping?  Is it accompanied by evidence of shock, pallor, sweating, faintness, weakness, cyanosis, nausea, or vomiting?
• Swelling of ankles and legs: does it clear up with rest?  Is it increasing?  Duration.
• Previous history indicative of rheumatic disease: flitting arthritis; frequent sore throat; growing pains; chorea.

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