Cardiovascular System Assessment

I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness - Be careful with using the word chest pain I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 1. Location - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness Use the term midsternal chest pain, down the left arm is the most typical, lower neck area, with women it can go down the right arm for pain radiation. Epigastrium—when people think they are having heart burn when it reality its chest pain. There is pain in the middle of the back. I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 2. Radiation - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness pressure or tightness, chest heaviness I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 3. Character - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness constant or intermittent pain, described as a sharp type of chest pain, pressure all the time or get worse with a deep breath, if its breathing then its musculoskeletal. I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 4. Onset - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness When did it start and how long have they had their chest pain. What were they doing when it started? I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 5. Associated symptoms - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness cardiac related then they will get nauseated, pale, diaphoretic, short of breath I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness 6. Alleviating symptoms - I. Subjective Data A. Chest pain or tightness ask about if it went away, or did they take any medications to help relieve the pain. Ask it they used nitroglycerin to alleviate the pain. I. Subjective Data B. Shortness of breath (dyspnea)—especially true with heart failure, decreased cardiac output 1. Orthopnea - I. Subjective Data B. Shortness of breath (dyspnea)—especially true with heart failure, decreased cardiac output Positioning, changing position. Better breathing sitting up them laying down