Breathlessness history-taking station

Breathlessness has a broad differential spanning cardiac, respiratory and other causes, so a focused but systematic history is essential. The examiner wants to see you reason towards a safe differential, not collect every possible fact.

How to structure it

• Clarify onset and timing — sudden versus gradual changes your differential significantly.
• Ask about associated symptoms: chest pain, cough, sputum, wheeze, ankle swelling, orthopnoea.
• Screen for red flags such as sudden breathlessness with pleuritic pain or haemoptysis.
• Cover relevant cardiac and respiratory history, smoking and exposures.

Common pitfalls

• Anchoring on one system too early.
• Forgetting functional impact — how far can they walk now versus before?
• Neglecting to safety-net at the end.

Marks come from structured data gathering, a prioritised differential, and a clear, patient-centred close.