← Differential Diagnosis class notes
FROM MY PT SCHOOL NOTES · DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS · UNIT 3 · CHAPTER 08
Cardiac and pulmonary disorders
Which cardiopulmonary symptoms change exercise safety and referral urgency? Match symptom trajectory, vital signs and exertional response to the correct escalation.
Key screening concepts
- Recognize non-MSK clues: disproportionate dyspnea, exertional chest symptoms, new edema, orthopnea, unexplained cough/fever, hypoxemia and abrupt exercise intolerance.
- Use vital signs, symptom onset, comorbidity context and exertional response to decide whether to progress, pause or refer.
- Heart failure, embolism, coronary syndromes and infectious disease have overlapping symptoms; avoid a single-sign diagnosis.
PT clinical connection
Rapid cardiopulmonary deterioration demands emergency evaluation; stable but unexplained findings warrant timely referral.
High-yield distinction
Triage dyspnea and exertional change: Acute severe symptoms, new hypoxemia, syncope or hemodynamic instability require immediate escalation.
Emergency reference: American Heart Association warning signs. Possible acute coronary symptoms require emergency assessment, not continuing a routine exercise examination.
Original class sources: 6 Cardio.pdf; 1 Pulmonary.pdf; 1 Pulmonary 2.pdf. Personal PT-school notes with separately indicated new references; not a diagnosis, medical clearance, emergency triage protocol or substitute for appropriate evaluation and referral pathways.
