NU606 EXAM
NU606 (CARDIOVASCULAR) (2025/2026)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
What is atherosclerosis? - Hardening and thickening of arterial wall.
What is angina? - Squeezing or choking of the chest related to ischemia.
What is myocardial infarction? - Necrosis of myocardial tissue.
What is the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease? - Supply/demand mismatch
resulting in decreased oxygenation to the heart.
What is the incidence of coronary artery disease? - Leading cause of cardiovascular death
in the USA.
What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease? - DM, HTN, Hyperlipidemia, male
> female (until menopause), tobacco use, family history.
What is the most common type of heart disease? - Coronary artery disease.
What are the predisposing factors for coronary artery disease? - CAD, HTN, Metabolic
Syndrome, Obesity, Tobacco use, DM, Male gender (until after age 65), Family history,
Hyperlipidemia, Sedentary lifestyle.
What are the types of angina? - Stable (chronic or classic) and Prinzmetal's (variant
angina).
NU606 EXAM
,NU606 EXAM
Describe stable angina. - (Chronic or Classic): Intermittent chest pain with a predictable
pattern, usually exercise-induced or emotional upset. Pain at rest is unusual. Pain lasts 1-5
minutes, may radiate to jaw, back, or arm. EKG may show ST depression. Nitro relieves
pain. Can be controlled by lifestyle changes (BP, cholesterol, weight loss, no smoking)
medications (like nitro, beta blockers, or CCBs).
Describe Prinzmetal's angina. - (Variant angina): Usually caused by spasm, hard to catch,
can be caused by an increase of intracellular calcium levels. Can occur at rest. Pain can
last up to 30mins. Usually happens at night, while patient is sleeping. More in women.
Caused from a vasovagal sympathetic reaction. Typically NO atherosclerosis. EKG can
show ST segment elevation if done during the event.
What is the treatment for stable angina? - Lifestyle changes (BP, cholesterol, weight loss,
no smoking) and medications like nitro, beta blockers, or CCBs.
What is the treatment for Prinzmetal's angina? - CCBs such as cardizem to manage
symptoms.
What is the typical duration of pain in stable angina? - 1-5 minutes with a max of 10-20
minutes.
What is the typical duration of pain in Prinzmetal's angina? - Up to 30 minutes.
What is the usual cause of stable angina? - Atherosclerotic buildup (plaque).
What is the usual cause of Prinzmetal's angina? - Vasovagal sympathetic reaction,
typically no atherosclerosis.
What can an EKG show during stable angina? - ST depression.
NU606 EXAM
, NU606 EXAM
What can an EKG show during Prinzmetal's angina? - ST segment elevation.
What is unstable angina? - (Preinfarction, rest or crescendo, or acute coronary syndrome):
lasts longer than 20-30 minutes. The pain may be a new onset or more severe than stable
angina. May occur at rest or with low levels of activity. Pattern of attacks usually
progress with increased frequency, duration, and intensity. EKG may show ST
depression. Nitrates are usually insufficient in relieving the pain. Management includes
adherence to ACS guidelines and there is an increase risk of MI within 6 months of this
angina.
What is microvascular angina? - (Syndrome X/metabolic syndrome) : angina that comes
from small coronary arteries that you may not see during a cardiac cath. CP mimics
angina. Could cause a positive exercise stress test, but no evidence of an abnormal
angiogram or coronary spasm. Often females who have small vessel disease or have had
DM for a long time. Tx with Renexa.
What is the 'P-Q-R-S-T' method of pain assessment? - -Provocative (what elicits the
pain).
-Quality (what it feels like or other assoc. symptoms).
-Region or radiation (where is the pain and does it go anywhere)
-Severity (1-10, if pain is gone what made it go away).
-Timing to treatment (how did pain begin, how long did it last, what helped it)
What are the three subclassifications of acute coronary syndrome? - Unstable angina,
non-ST elevation MI, ST segment MI.
What are the characteristics of unstable angina? - new onset, or change in pattern or
frequency
NU606 EXAM
NU606 (CARDIOVASCULAR) (2025/2026)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
What is atherosclerosis? - Hardening and thickening of arterial wall.
What is angina? - Squeezing or choking of the chest related to ischemia.
What is myocardial infarction? - Necrosis of myocardial tissue.
What is the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease? - Supply/demand mismatch
resulting in decreased oxygenation to the heart.
What is the incidence of coronary artery disease? - Leading cause of cardiovascular death
in the USA.
What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease? - DM, HTN, Hyperlipidemia, male
> female (until menopause), tobacco use, family history.
What is the most common type of heart disease? - Coronary artery disease.
What are the predisposing factors for coronary artery disease? - CAD, HTN, Metabolic
Syndrome, Obesity, Tobacco use, DM, Male gender (until after age 65), Family history,
Hyperlipidemia, Sedentary lifestyle.
What are the types of angina? - Stable (chronic or classic) and Prinzmetal's (variant
angina).
NU606 EXAM
,NU606 EXAM
Describe stable angina. - (Chronic or Classic): Intermittent chest pain with a predictable
pattern, usually exercise-induced or emotional upset. Pain at rest is unusual. Pain lasts 1-5
minutes, may radiate to jaw, back, or arm. EKG may show ST depression. Nitro relieves
pain. Can be controlled by lifestyle changes (BP, cholesterol, weight loss, no smoking)
medications (like nitro, beta blockers, or CCBs).
Describe Prinzmetal's angina. - (Variant angina): Usually caused by spasm, hard to catch,
can be caused by an increase of intracellular calcium levels. Can occur at rest. Pain can
last up to 30mins. Usually happens at night, while patient is sleeping. More in women.
Caused from a vasovagal sympathetic reaction. Typically NO atherosclerosis. EKG can
show ST segment elevation if done during the event.
What is the treatment for stable angina? - Lifestyle changes (BP, cholesterol, weight loss,
no smoking) and medications like nitro, beta blockers, or CCBs.
What is the treatment for Prinzmetal's angina? - CCBs such as cardizem to manage
symptoms.
What is the typical duration of pain in stable angina? - 1-5 minutes with a max of 10-20
minutes.
What is the typical duration of pain in Prinzmetal's angina? - Up to 30 minutes.
What is the usual cause of stable angina? - Atherosclerotic buildup (plaque).
What is the usual cause of Prinzmetal's angina? - Vasovagal sympathetic reaction,
typically no atherosclerosis.
What can an EKG show during stable angina? - ST depression.
NU606 EXAM
, NU606 EXAM
What can an EKG show during Prinzmetal's angina? - ST segment elevation.
What is unstable angina? - (Preinfarction, rest or crescendo, or acute coronary syndrome):
lasts longer than 20-30 minutes. The pain may be a new onset or more severe than stable
angina. May occur at rest or with low levels of activity. Pattern of attacks usually
progress with increased frequency, duration, and intensity. EKG may show ST
depression. Nitrates are usually insufficient in relieving the pain. Management includes
adherence to ACS guidelines and there is an increase risk of MI within 6 months of this
angina.
What is microvascular angina? - (Syndrome X/metabolic syndrome) : angina that comes
from small coronary arteries that you may not see during a cardiac cath. CP mimics
angina. Could cause a positive exercise stress test, but no evidence of an abnormal
angiogram or coronary spasm. Often females who have small vessel disease or have had
DM for a long time. Tx with Renexa.
What is the 'P-Q-R-S-T' method of pain assessment? - -Provocative (what elicits the
pain).
-Quality (what it feels like or other assoc. symptoms).
-Region or radiation (where is the pain and does it go anywhere)
-Severity (1-10, if pain is gone what made it go away).
-Timing to treatment (how did pain begin, how long did it last, what helped it)
What are the three subclassifications of acute coronary syndrome? - Unstable angina,
non-ST elevation MI, ST segment MI.
What are the characteristics of unstable angina? - new onset, or change in pattern or
frequency
NU606 EXAM
