Review of Systems: Terminology from Health History

Pruritus

Skin; an uncomfortable irritating sensation that make you want to scratch

Dizziness

Head; feeling lightheaded, woozy, or off-balanced

Vertigo

Head; a false spinning sensation where you feel like you or your surroundings are moving

Syncope

Head; temporary loss of consciousness

Tinnitus

Ears; The perception of a ringing/buzzing sound in ears when no external sound is present

Dysphagia

Mouth and throat; difficulty or discomfort when swallowing

Hemoptysis

Respiratory; coughing up blood or bloody mucus

Palpitations

Cardiovascular; Feelings that your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping a beat

Cyanosis

Cardiovascular; blush/purple color in skin/lips because of a lack of oxygen

Dyspnea

Cardiovascular; Shortness of breath

Orthopnea

Cardiovascular; shortness of breath that happens when you lie flat and goes away when you stand/sit up; symptom of CHF

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

Cardiovascular: A sudden shortness of breath that wakes a person from sleep, usually one or two hours after lying down

Nocturia

Cardiovascular; waking up two or more times in the night to urinate

Edema

Cardiovascular: Build up of excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues which causes swelling usually by ankles/feet

Anemia

Cardiovascular; The body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to tissues

Mottling

Peripheral Vascular; A patchy, uneven discoloration of skin as a result of change in blood flow

Intermittent Claudation

Peripheral vascular; A muscle cramp/ache in legs that happens during exercise and stops with a short rest, symptom of PAD

Thrombophlebitis

Peripheral vascular; inflammatory condition where blood clot blocks one or more veins usually in legs

Jaundice

Gastrointestinal; Condition that turns eyes/skin yellow due to build up of bilirubin in blood, symptom of liver failure

Flatulence

Gastrointestinal; releasing gas from digestive system through anus

Dysuria

Urinary; Pain or discomfort during or right after urination

Oliguria

Urinary; producing less urine than normal

Menarche

Female: A female’s first menstrual period

Amenorrhea

Female: Absence of menstrual periods

Menorrhagia

Female: Menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding

Dysmenorrhea

Female; Severe or painful menstrual cramps

Dyspareunia

Sexual Health: Persistent or recurring pain before, during, or after sex

Tic

Neurologic; Sudden or repetitive and involuntary body movement or sound

Tremor

Neurologic; Involuntary rhythmic shaking movement in one or more parts of the body

Polyuria

Endocrine; producing and abnormally high volume of urine

Polydipsia

Endocrine; excessive constant thirst that does not go away even after drinking lots of fluid

Polyphagia

Endocrine; extreme or constant hunger that doesn’t go away after eating

Emesis

Gastrointestinal; Vomiting

Pallor

Skin; Paleness of skin and loss of mucous membrane