Health Appraisal & Risk Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real ACSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Health Appraisal & Risk Assessment flashcards as text
Which of the following absolute contraindications to exercise testing would require postponing a graded exercise test?
Answer: Unstable angina with recent change in symptom pattern
Unstable angina is an absolute contraindication to exercise testing per ACSM, as it indicates an active ischemic event with unpredictable risk.
A client's LDL cholesterol is reported as 145 mg/dL. According to ACSM CVD risk factor thresholds, how is this classified?
Answer: A positive CVD risk factor
LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL is an ACSM positive CVD risk factor threshold; a value of 145 mg/dL exceeds this threshold.
When conducting a health appraisal for an older adult (age 75), which assessment would be MOST critical to include beyond standard CVD risk screening?
Answer: Functional independence, fall risk, and polypharmacy review
In older adults, assessing functional independence, fall risk, and medication interactions (polypharmacy) is essential because these factors directly impact safe exercise participation.
A client taking a calcium channel blocker for hypertension presents for exercise testing. Which hemodynamic response should the exercise physiologist anticipate during testing?
Answer: Blunted blood pressure response and potential reflex tachycardia
Calcium channel blockers reduce peripheral vascular resistance, blunting the normal blood pressure rise during exercise and sometimes causing reflex tachycardia.
According to ACSM, which of the following symptoms would constitute an indication to STOP an exercise test immediately?
Answer: Systolic blood pressure drop of > 10 mmHg from baseline with increasing workload
A systolic BP drop > 10 mmHg from baseline (exertional hypotension) during increasing workload is an ACSM indication to stop the exercise test, as it suggests cardiovascular compromise.
A health appraisal reveals a client smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day. Under ACSM risk factor criteria, cigarette smoking is considered a positive CVD risk factor if the client:
Answer: Currently smokes or quit within the past 6 months
ACSM defines cigarette smoking as a positive CVD risk factor for current smokers or those who quit within the previous 6 months.
During a health appraisal, a client reports a sedentary lifestyle. According to ACSM, physical inactivity is defined as a positive CVD risk factor when the client:
Answer: Does not meet the minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week
ACSM defines sedentary lifestyle as a positive CVD risk factor when the client does not participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most (≥3) days per week.