Health 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 Assessment flashcards as text
A 60-year-old female client reports a sedentary lifestyle and has a family history of heart disease. She denies symptoms. How many positive CVD risk factors does she have per ACSM?
Answer: 2
She has two positive risk factors: age (≥55 for women) and family history of premature CVD; sedentary lifestyle is also a risk factor, making it potentially 3, but age alone qualifies her for one.
Which exercise test endpoint is considered an absolute indication to stop a graded exercise test?
Answer: Drop in systolic BP >10 mmHg from baseline with signs of ischemia
A drop in systolic blood pressure ≥10 mmHg from baseline accompanied by ischemic signs is an absolute indication to terminate the exercise test immediately.
In the ACSM risk classification framework, which condition automatically places a client in the 'known disease' category?
Answer: Diagnosed peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral arterial disease is a cardiovascular disease that automatically places the client in ACSM's 'known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease' category.
What does the YMCA step test measure, and what variable is recorded to estimate aerobic fitness?
Answer: Aerobic capacity; heart rate recovery after stepping
The YMCA 3-minute step test estimates aerobic fitness by recording a 1-minute recovery heart rate after stepping; a lower recovery HR indicates better aerobic conditioning.
When performing the ACSM health appraisal, which medical history item would most directly indicate a need for a physician's medical clearance before vigorous exercise?
Answer: Recent history of syncope during physical exertion
Exertional syncope is a red-flag symptom suggesting possible cardiac or neurological cause and requires medical evaluation before vigorous exercise is prescribed.
Which assessment method uses bioelectrical impedance to estimate body composition and is most affected by hydration status?
Answer: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
BIA estimates fat-free mass by measuring electrical resistance; hydration level directly affects conductivity and can cause significant error in body fat estimates.
During health assessment, a client's LDL cholesterol is measured at 142 mg/dL. According to ACSM CVD risk factor thresholds, how should this be classified?
Answer: Positive risk factor for CVD
ACSM identifies LDL ≥130 mg/dL as a positive CVD risk factor; a value of 142 mg/dL exceeds this threshold and counts as one positive risk factor.