ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which medication is used to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors work by dilating blood vessels to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They also help protect the heart and improve its function. Beta-blockers (B) lower heart rate, diuretics (C) reduce fluid retention, and calcium channel blockers (D) relax blood vessels, but they do not offer the same comprehensive benefits for high blood pressure and cardiovascular health as ACE inhibitors.
Question 2 of 5
Which condition involves the enlargement and weakening of the left ventricle of the heart, leading to reduced pumping ability?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Dilated cardiomyopathy. This condition involves the enlargement and weakening of the left ventricle, leading to reduced pumping ability. This results in the heart being unable to pump blood efficiently, causing symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (B) is the thickening of the heart muscle, not enlargement. Restrictive cardiomyopathy (C) involves stiffening of the heart muscle, not weakening. Pericarditis (D) is inflammation of the pericardium, not the heart muscle itself.
Question 3 of 5
What is a condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is consistently too high, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Hypertension is defined as consistently high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. 2. Hypotension is low blood pressure, not associated with increased risk of heart disease or stroke. 3. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, not directly related to blood pressure. 4. Hyperlipidemia is high levels of fats in the blood, which can contribute to heart disease but not specifically related to high blood pressure. Summary: Hypertension is the correct answer because it specifically refers to high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Hypotension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are incorrect as they do not directly cause consistently high blood pressure.
Question 4 of 5
What test measures the pressure in the arteries during the contraction and relaxation of the heart?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Blood pressure test. This test measures the pressure in the arteries during the heart's contraction (systolic pressure) and relaxation (diastolic pressure). It provides important information about heart health and overall cardiovascular function. The other choices are incorrect because B (ECG) measures the heart's electrical activity, C (Spirometry) measures lung function, and D (Pulse oximetry) measures oxygen saturation in the blood, not arterial pressure.
Question 5 of 5
Which condition occurs when the heart muscle is damaged due to a lack of oxygen, often resulting from a heart attack?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when the heart muscle is damaged due to a lack of oxygen supply, often caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries. This results in irreversible damage to the heart tissue. Explanation: A: Myocardial infarction is the correct answer as it specifically refers to heart muscle damage due to oxygen deprivation. B: Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, but it does not result in permanent damage like a heart attack. C: Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, and does not directly involve heart muscle damage. D: Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the pulmonary artery in the lungs, not directly related to heart muscle damage.