Objectives: 1. Identify factors that put the patient at risk for cardiovascular problems. Risk factors for cardiovascular problems, such as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), are categorized into modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable risk factors. Modifiable risk factors are things that an individual can eliminate or manage to lower their risk of developing cardiovascular problems. These include smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. However, non-modifiable risk factors are beyond our control, and can play a significant role in cardiovascular disorders. Such factors include age, gender (male), and family history of cardiac problems. 2. Describe the appropriate physical assessment for patients with cardiovascular problems. After obtaining a full history, inspect their general appearance, posture, symmetry of the thorax, skin color, gross deformities of the skin or bone structure, and any abnormal contours of the precordium. Observe the patient’s breathing pattern, rate, and use of any accessory muscles. Inspecting for the presence of cyanosis is pertinent in a cardiac assessment. Central cyanosis will cause the lips, mouth, and conjunctiva to become blue. Peripheral cyanosis will cause blue discoloration mainly on the lips, ear lobes, and nail beds of the upper and lower extremities. Peripheral cyanosis might indicate vasoconstriction; whereas central cyanosis could suggest heart disease and poor oxygenation. Check skin for color (appropriate to ethnicity), temperature for tissue oxygenation, turgor for hydration status, presence of clubbing of the nail beds, and capillary refill time. When auscultating the pulses, begin with the carotid & listen with the bell of the stethoscope for the presence of any bruit. Next, check the brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibial pulse points for presence of pulse, amplitude, and rate. Next, listen to their apica