CP (chest pain)
Formal Definition
Chest pain — a symptom requiring systematic evaluation for cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal etiologies.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Patient with CP" — heard constantly in the ED and on telemetry floors.
Example
""55-year-old male presenting with CP: substernal, pressure-like, 8/10, radiating to the left arm, onset at rest, diaphoretic. ECG stat. Rule out STEMI.""
Clinical Context
When you hear CP, think ACS first. Characterize it: quality, location, radiation, severity, onset, duration, alleviating/aggravating factors. "Atypical" CP (sharp, pleuritic, positional) is not always benign — women and diabetics frequently have atypical MI presentations.
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