Top 10 Cardiology Mnemonics

1. Causes of Chest Pain – RAT PLACES

R – Reflux

A – Aortic dissection

T – Trauma

P – Pneumonia / Pneumothorax

L – Lung (PE)

A – Angina / MI

C – Costochondritis

E – Esophageal spasm

S – Shingles

2. Causes of Reversible Secondary Hypertension – CHAPS

C – Coarctation of aorta

H – Hyperaldosteronism

A – Apnea (OSA)

P – Pheochromocytoma

S – Stenosis (renal artery)

3. Diastolic Murmurs – PR ARD

P – Pulmonary regurgitation

R – Rheumatic (mitral stenosis)

A – Austin Flint murmur

R – Ruptured papillary muscle (functional MS)

D – Aortic regurgitation

4. Causes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy – ABCD FRESH

A – Alcohol

B – Beriberi

C – Coxsackie / Cocaine

D – Doxorubicin

F – Familial

R – Rheumatic

E – Endocrine

S – Sepsis

H – Hemochromatosis

5. ECG Causes of Tall T Waves – MI HAT

M – Myocardial infarction (hyperacute)

I – Ischemia

H – Hyperkalemia

A – Acute pericarditis

T – Tall normal variant

6. Causes of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy – HARD

H – Hypertension

A – Aortic stenosis

R – Regurgitant lesions

D – Dilated cardiomyopathy (late)

7. Causes of Acute Pulmonary Edema – FAILURE

F – Fluid overload

A – Acute MI

I – Infection

L – Left ventricular failure

U – Uncontrolled hypertension

R – Renal failure

E – Excess IV fluids

8. Duke Criteria for Infective Endocarditis – BE AFRAID

B – Blood culture positive

E – Endocardial involvement

A – Antibiotic use

F – Fever

R – Rheumatic heart disease

A – Arterial emboli

I – Immunologic phenomena

D – Drug use (IV)

9. Causes of Secondary Cardiomyopathy – TACHY

T – Tachycardia-induced

A – Amyloidosis

C – Chemotherapy

H – Hemochromatosis

Y – Years of alcohol

10. Indications for Urgent Cardioversion – SHOCKED

S – Syncope

H – Hypotension

O – Ongoing chest pain

C – Congestive heart failure

K – Known ischemia

E – Edema (pulmonary)

D – Decreased consciousness