Medical History
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The doctor will probably ask questions about your health, symptoms and past medical history. As a tendency towards CAD can be inherited, the doctor will also ask questions about your family medical history.
A family history of heart and blood vessel diseases, diabetes, gout, high blood pressure (hypertension) or high blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) increases the risk of CAD in an individual. Race is also a devisive factor. Asians and African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to have high blood pressure and so have a higher risk of CAD.
The doctor might ask questions about symptoms that could indicate CAD, including:
pain (its nature, duration and location)
breathlessness
weakness or tiredness
palpitations (awareness of the action of the heart)
light-headedness, fainting or blackouts
past infections