Taking a history and the examination of the cardiovascular system

A full history and physical examination remain an integral part of assessment of the cardiac patient in the 21st century. It is profoundly unwise to rely solely on the results of imaging and other investigations. Total reappraisal is necessary when the history, examination and investigations are discordant - no investigation is infallible, and the clinical assessment should never be ignored. The four main symptoms of cardiac disease (chest pain/discomfort, breathlessness, palpitations, light headedness/syncope) are summarized, and their presentation in the history discussed. Appropriate sections of the cardiac examination are described.