Cardiology Exam Questions

Pain located above the waist, made worse by physical exertion, and relieved by rest. It can manifest as chest pain, tightness, pressure, shortness of breath, palpitations, indigestion, or burning.

Factors that can be controlled or modified to reduce the risk of heart disease. They include sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Factors that cannot be changed, but can still put you at higher risk for heart disease. They include male gender, past history of vascular disease (e.g., stroke), older age, and a family history of heart problems.

A posture where someone sits up straight and leans forward, often seen in patients with heart problems.

A posture where someone sits up straight with their hands clasped in front of their chest, often seen in patients with heart problems.

Abnormality of heart rate, rhythm, amplitude, or delay of pulsation that can be detected by feeling the radial or femoral pulse.

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, often due to low oxygen levels in the blood. The skin is typically pale and the tongue yellow in patients with left heart failure (LHF), rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and anemia.

An unusual position where the patient sits upright and leans forward, often seen in patients with pericarditis or mediastinal syndrome.

An exaggerated protrusion of the chest that can be a sign of heart enlargement.

Vibrations felt on the skin, often over the heart, which can indicate turbulent blood flow.

A standardized measurement of energy expenditure, representing the amount of oxygen consumed by the body at rest.

Total body oxygen consumption, reflecting the overall effort needed to sustain exercise.

A type of exercise test that strives to push the individual to their absolute limit.

The highest rate of oxygen consumption an individual can achieve during maximal exercise.

A type of exercise test that measures or predicts VO2 Max.

A type of exercise test that measures or predicts VO2 Max.

Types of exercise tests used to predict VO2 Max without reaching maximal effort.

Types of exercise tests designed to evaluate performance, not just predict VO2 Max.

A heart sound heard immediately before the first heart sound (S1) caused by blood being forcefully pushed into a stiff or enlarged ventricle.

Unusual sounds heard during the heart cycle, often described as whooshing or swishing, caused by turbulent blood flow due to a faulty valve.

A specialized test that assesses the limits and mechanisms of how well a person can exercise. It helps understand how different body systems work together during effort.

The maximum amount of oxygen a person can use during strenuous exercise, reflecting their overall fitness and functional capacity.

A standardized process used in CPET where a controlled exercise stimulus is given to the subject, and their physiological responses are measured and compared to normative values.

Values representing the typical physiological responses to exercise in a healthy population. These values are used as a reference point to interpret CPET results.

The link between breathing in oxygen and using it to produce energy by the body, which is maximized during exercise.

The main aim of exercise testing is to evaluate how different organs and systems function together to supply oxygen during increased metabolic demand.

The total amount of air breathed in and out per minute.

The volume of air inhaled or exhaled with each breath.

The number of breaths taken per minute.

The ratio of carbon dioxide production (VCO2) to oxygen consumption (VO2) during exercise.

A value greater than or equal to 1.10, indicating a high exercise effort.

The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Exercise involving gradually increasing the intensity to reach a peak effort.

The highest level of exercise intensity that can be sustained for a specific period.

A test that involves walking as fast as possible for 12 minutes, aiming to cover as much distance as possible. It's a common way to assess aerobic fitness and endurance.

Includes a range of protocols, including:

• Progressive incremental exercise: Work rate increases every minute.
• Continuous ramp protocol: Work rate increases steadily throughout the test.
• Multistage exercise protocol: Work rate increases every 3 minutes, with a ‘pseudo’ steady state at each level.
• Constant work rate protocol: The same work rate is maintained for a specific time, usually 5 to 30 minutes.
• Discontinuous protocol: Short periods of constant work rate are separated by resting periods, with progressively increasing loads. This protocol is less common clinically.

A cardiovascular assessment that evaluates the organs and systems involved in the exercise response, under conditions of progressively intense physical stress. It involves large muscle groups, often the lower extremities, like running on a treadmill or cycling.

A test measuring the distance an individual can cover in a 20 meter shuttle, repeating the distance back and forth at increasing pace. It assesses aerobic fitness and endurance.

A test requiring an individual to walk as fast as possible for 6 minutes, measuring the distance covered. It's a common assessment of aerobic fitness and endurance.

This test assesses the ability to perform a range of functional activities, such as walking, carrying objects, and getting up from a chair.

This test involves carrying objects and completing various tasks in a specific time frame.