Pearl #3: Know your normal and abnormal heart sounds.
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K N O W M E D G E
Heart sounds such as S1 and S2 are also a big part of the cardiovascular physical exam on
boards. Know what happens with inspiration/expiration as well as other pathologies. Don’t
forget about S3 and S4. Remember, sometimes an S3 can be normal (i.e. pregnancy and
children).
Heart Sounds to know for the Internal Medicine Boards
Pearl #4: The number one killer in the world is ischemic heart disease, so know what