ACSM CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
FINAL STUDY PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Triglycerides. Answer: Normal <150, borderline high 150-199,
high 200-499, very high >_ 500. Elevated triglycerides increase CVD
risk. (main contistuant of body fat)
◉ Impaired fasting glucose. Answer: Prediabetes, elevated blood
glucose in response to dietary carbohydrates in a fasted state. 100-
125 mg/dL fasting at least 8 hours.
◉ Impaired glucose tolerance. Answer: 2 hour values in oral glucose
tolerance test. 140-199 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolerance test.
◉ Hypertension. Answer: Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) >_
140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >_ 90 mmHg, taking
anti-hypertension medication, or being told by a physician or other
health care professional on at least 2 occasions that an individual
has high Bp. Increased risk of CVD, stroke, heart failure, peripheral
artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. Risk of CVD doubles for
each incremental increase in SBP or 20 mmHg of DBP of 10 mmHg.
,◉ Atherosclerosis. Answer: Process where fatty streaks develop
causing the artery wall to thicken while reducing luminal diameter.
(plaque build up)
◉ Myocardial Infarction. Answer: Complete obstruction of blood
flow to the cardiac myocardial tissue. Heart attack and results in
tissue death or narcosis.
◉ Dyspnea. Answer: Shortness of breath
◉ Tachycardia. Answer: Rapid beating or fluttering of the heart
◉ Claudication. Answer: Pain and/or cramping in the lower leg due
to inadequate blood flow to the muscles
◉ Syncope. Answer: Fainting and dizziness during exercise may
indicate poor blood flow to the brain because of inadequate cardiac
output from a number of cardiac disorders
◉ Ischemia. Answer: Shortage of oxygenated blood flow to the heart
myocardium
,◉ Recommended plasma cholesterol levels for adults based on
National Cholesterol Education Program/ATP guidelines. Answer:
LDL Cholesterol: Optimal <100
Near optimal/above optimal 100-129
Borderline High 130-159
High 160-189
Very high >_ 190
HDL Cholesterol: Low <40
High >_ 60
Total Cholesterol: Desirable <200
Borderline high 200-239
High >_ 240
Triglycerides: Normal <150
Borderline high 150-199
High 200-499
Very high >_ 500
◉ Recommended blood pressure levels for adults based on National
Blood Pressure Education Program Guidelines. Answer: Normal: SBP
<120 DBP <80
, Prehypertension: SBP 120-139 DBP 80-89
Stage 1 Hypertension: SBP 140-159 DBP 90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension: SBP >_ 160 DBP >_100
◉ The components of a health history questionnaire. Answer: - Past
and current medical history
- Family history of cardiac disease
- Orthopedic limitations
- Prescribed medications
- Activity patterns
- Nutritional habits
- Stress and anxiety levels
- Smoking and alcohol use
◉ The physiological basis of the major components of physical
fitness: cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, flexibility,
muscular strength, and muscular endurance.. Answer:
Cardiorespiratory Endurance: The ability of the circulatory and
respiratory system to supply oxygen during sustained physical
activity
Body Composition: Relative amounts of muscle, fat, bone, and other
vital parts of the body.
FINAL STUDY PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Triglycerides. Answer: Normal <150, borderline high 150-199,
high 200-499, very high >_ 500. Elevated triglycerides increase CVD
risk. (main contistuant of body fat)
◉ Impaired fasting glucose. Answer: Prediabetes, elevated blood
glucose in response to dietary carbohydrates in a fasted state. 100-
125 mg/dL fasting at least 8 hours.
◉ Impaired glucose tolerance. Answer: 2 hour values in oral glucose
tolerance test. 140-199 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolerance test.
◉ Hypertension. Answer: Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) >_
140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >_ 90 mmHg, taking
anti-hypertension medication, or being told by a physician or other
health care professional on at least 2 occasions that an individual
has high Bp. Increased risk of CVD, stroke, heart failure, peripheral
artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. Risk of CVD doubles for
each incremental increase in SBP or 20 mmHg of DBP of 10 mmHg.
,◉ Atherosclerosis. Answer: Process where fatty streaks develop
causing the artery wall to thicken while reducing luminal diameter.
(plaque build up)
◉ Myocardial Infarction. Answer: Complete obstruction of blood
flow to the cardiac myocardial tissue. Heart attack and results in
tissue death or narcosis.
◉ Dyspnea. Answer: Shortness of breath
◉ Tachycardia. Answer: Rapid beating or fluttering of the heart
◉ Claudication. Answer: Pain and/or cramping in the lower leg due
to inadequate blood flow to the muscles
◉ Syncope. Answer: Fainting and dizziness during exercise may
indicate poor blood flow to the brain because of inadequate cardiac
output from a number of cardiac disorders
◉ Ischemia. Answer: Shortage of oxygenated blood flow to the heart
myocardium
,◉ Recommended plasma cholesterol levels for adults based on
National Cholesterol Education Program/ATP guidelines. Answer:
LDL Cholesterol: Optimal <100
Near optimal/above optimal 100-129
Borderline High 130-159
High 160-189
Very high >_ 190
HDL Cholesterol: Low <40
High >_ 60
Total Cholesterol: Desirable <200
Borderline high 200-239
High >_ 240
Triglycerides: Normal <150
Borderline high 150-199
High 200-499
Very high >_ 500
◉ Recommended blood pressure levels for adults based on National
Blood Pressure Education Program Guidelines. Answer: Normal: SBP
<120 DBP <80
, Prehypertension: SBP 120-139 DBP 80-89
Stage 1 Hypertension: SBP 140-159 DBP 90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension: SBP >_ 160 DBP >_100
◉ The components of a health history questionnaire. Answer: - Past
and current medical history
- Family history of cardiac disease
- Orthopedic limitations
- Prescribed medications
- Activity patterns
- Nutritional habits
- Stress and anxiety levels
- Smoking and alcohol use
◉ The physiological basis of the major components of physical
fitness: cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, flexibility,
muscular strength, and muscular endurance.. Answer:
Cardiorespiratory Endurance: The ability of the circulatory and
respiratory system to supply oxygen during sustained physical
activity
Body Composition: Relative amounts of muscle, fat, bone, and other
vital parts of the body.
