Practice Case Studies: Answer the following questions for the information provided below for each sample
case
study.
1. Age: 67
Sex: F
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 167 lbs.
Total Cholesterol: 189 mg/dl
Resting blood pressure: 136/88 mmHg
Father died of a heart attack at 58 years old
Fasting blood glucose: 109 mg/dL
Non-cigarette smoker
Positive risk factors for atherosclerosis:
Negative risk factors for atherosclerosis:
Overall risk factor score:
2. Upon reading a patient’s medical history form, you ascertain that this individual is a 42 year old male
(194 lbs., 5’ 10”) with a resting blood pressure of 126/78 mmHg and fasting LDL, HDL, and blood
glucose values of 126, mg/dL, 52 mg/dL, and 92 mg/dL, respectively. He gets to the gym 2x per week,
doing a combination of treadmill running, swimming and weight lifting for 20-30 minutes per session.
He is currently taking Propanolol and Lipitor, which was prescribed by his physician 2 years ago. After
his last yearly physical 3-months ago, he quit smoking cigarettes. No signs or symptoms of
cardiovascular disease are indicated in his report. However, his mother passed away from a heart attack
at the age of 58 years. His father is still alive, but recently underwent open heart surgery at the age of 76
years.
Positive risk factors for atherosclerosis:
Negative risk factors for atherosclerosis:
Overall risk factor score:
Risk Factor Stratification: Low Moderate High
According to ACSM criteria, should this patient have medical clearance before beginning an exercise
program?
3. Upon taking a medical history report on a prospective personal training client, you determine that
this individual is a 36 year old female (height: 5’ 2”; weight: 186 lbs.) with no personal or family
history of being diagnosed with coronary artery disease or diabetes mellitus. Her current resting
heart rate and blood pressure are 82 bpm and 134/92 mmHg, respectively. She leads a busy life
consisting of a stressful office job, which limits her ability to exercise very often. She started
smoking a few years ago, but she has been trying to quit for the last 2 months. At her most recent
physician check-up a few months ago, her blood chemistry report indicated that her HDL value
was 38 mg/dl with a total cholesterol value of 136 mg/dl. Her fasting blood glucose value was
106 mg/dl. Her physician has prescribed her to take a lipid lowering medication, but she has yet
to fill the prescription. She decided to come to you to give exercise a try before going on a
pharmaceutical regimen to control her blood pressure. She’s a bit trepidatious about trying
exercise, as she has never been the exercise type and she’s recently experienced some unusual
shortness of breath with simple tasks, such as climbing the stairs in her house. She is hoping
exercise can help alleviate this apparent respiratory issue, in addition to solving her dyslipidemia
issue.
I. Given the information provided above, identify which statement is either true or false all
regarding this client by indicating a T or F in the space preceding each lettered item.
Statement True or False
This client is dyslipidemic.
Her risk factor score is +3.
Her BMI value is within the normal/healthy range.
Given that she has recently been to the doctor, she does not
need to visit her physician again for clearance prior to
engaging in physical activity.
This client is at moderate risk for the development of
atherosclerosis.
Due to her risk factor profile, this client should probably
avoid exercise all together, due to the high chance of death.
With targeted exercise program that abides by the basic
training principles, it is likely that this client’s blood pressure
can be returned to within normal/healthy range.
It is safe to engage this client in exercise without physician
clearance, as long as she has a rescue inhaler on her at all
times, due to the apparent respiratory issue (possibly asthma).
This client is deemed a non-smoker, due to her desire and
attempts to quit over the past months.
II. Use the space below to correct any items identified as false, such that they are made true.
