HESI HEALTH ACTUAL 2025”2026 EXAM REVIEW 150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES COVERING THE MOST TESTED
QUESTIONS GUARANTEE A+ GRADE
1. A 65-year-old patient presents with shortness of breath and fatigue. During the
assessment, you notice jugular vein distention and peripheral edema. Which condition is
most consistent with these findings?
A. Pneumonia
B. Asthma
C. ☑ Heart failure
D. Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Jugular vein distention, peripheral edema, and fatigue are classic signs of right-sided
heart failure.
2. During a physical exam, a patient reports frequent headaches and blurred vision. You
measure their blood pressure as 180/110 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate
action?
A. Schedule routine follow-up
B. Recommend lifestyle changes only
C. ☑ Treat as hypertensive emergency and notify the provider immediately
D. Suggest over-the-counter medication
Rationale: Severe hypertension with symptoms requires urgent intervention to prevent organ
damage.
3. A patient complains of burning during urination and increased frequency. On assessment,
mild suprapubic tenderness is noted. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Kidney stones
B. ☑ Urinary tract infection (UTI)
C. Pyelonephritis
D. Bladder cancer
Rationale: Dysuria, frequency, and suprapubic tenderness are typical of lower urinary tract
infections.
4. While performing a cardiac assessment, you hear a systolic murmur at the apex radiating
to the axilla. Which valve is most likely affected?
A. Tricuspid
B. Pulmonic
,C. Aortic
D. ☑ Mitral
Rationale: A systolic murmur at the apex radiating to the axilla is characteristic of mitral
regurgitation.
5. During an abdominal assessment, you observe a patient with a rigid, distended abdomen
and rebound tenderness. The patient also reports severe pain. What condition should be
suspected?
A. Appendicitis
B. Cholecystitis
C. ☑ Peritonitis
D. Diverticulitis
Rationale: Rigid abdomen, rebound tenderness, and severe pain indicate peritoneal
inflammation.
6. A patient presents with a 3-day history of fever, productive cough with green sputum, and
pleuritic chest pain. Which finding would support the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia?
A. Clear lung sounds
B. ☑ Crackles and localized dullness on percussion
C. Wheezing
D. Normal chest X-ray
Rationale: Crackles and dullness on percussion are consistent with alveolar consolidation seen
in pneumonia.
7. During a neurological exam, a patient demonstrates weakness in the right arm and leg and
facial droop on the right side. Which condition is most likely?
A. Peripheral neuropathy
B. Parkinson’s disease
C. ☑ Left-sided cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
D. Multiple sclerosis
Rationale: Neurological deficits occur on the side opposite the brain lesion; right-sided
weakness indicates left hemisphere involvement.
8. A patient reports burning in the lower chest and a sour taste in the mouth after meals. The
patient is overweight and often lies down after eating. What is the most likely condition?
A. Gastritis
,B. Peptic ulcer disease
C. ☑ Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D. Esophageal cancer
Rationale: Heartburn after meals, sour taste, and lying down aggravate reflux, classic for GERD.
9. While assessing a patient’s lungs, you hear high-pitched musical sounds during exhalation.
The patient reports dyspnea and coughing. Which condition is most likely?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. ☑ Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Rationale: Wheezing, especially on exhalation, is a hallmark sign of asthma.
10. A patient presents with swelling in the ankles, fatigue, and a weight gain of 5 pounds in
one week. Which lab test would most likely confirm your suspicion?
A. Liver function tests
B. Complete blood count
C. ☑ B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
D. Thyroid function tests
Rationale: BNP is elevated in heart failure and correlates with fluid retention and symptoms.
11. During a head-to-toe assessment, you observe a patient with pale conjunctiva, brittle
nails, and glossitis. Which condition is most likely?
A. Vitamin D deficiency
B. ☑ Iron-deficiency anemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Pallor, nail changes, and smooth tongue indicate iron-deficiency anemia.
12. A patient complains of frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss.
Blood glucose testing reveals elevated levels. Which type of diabetes is most consistent with
these findings?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Type 2 diabetes
C. ☑ Type 1 diabetes
, D. Prediabetes
Rationale: Polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss are classic early symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
13. A patient presents with sudden severe right upper quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting
after a fatty meal. On assessment, Murphy’s sign is positive. Which condition should you
suspect?
A. Appendicitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. ☑ Cholecystitis
D. Hepatitis
Rationale: Right upper quadrant pain with a positive Murphy’s sign indicates gallbladder
inflammation.
14. During a musculoskeletal assessment, a patient reports joint stiffness, swelling, and
morning stiffness lasting over an hour. Which condition is most likely?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Gout
C. ☑ Rheumatoid arthritis
D. Fibromyalgia
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness and symmetrical joint involvement are characteristic of
rheumatoid arthritis.
15. A patient presents with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and dry skin. Laboratory
results show low T4 and elevated TSH. Which condition is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. ☑ Hypothyroidism
C. Addison’s disease
D. Cushing’s syndrome
Rationale: Low thyroid hormone and elevated TSH indicate primary hypothyroidism.
16. While assessing a patient’s skin, you notice a red, warm, swollen area with a central
blister on the lower leg. The patient reports pain and fever. Which condition is most likely?
A. Psoriasis
B. Cellulitis
C. ☑ Impetigo
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES COVERING THE MOST TESTED
QUESTIONS GUARANTEE A+ GRADE
1. A 65-year-old patient presents with shortness of breath and fatigue. During the
assessment, you notice jugular vein distention and peripheral edema. Which condition is
most consistent with these findings?
A. Pneumonia
B. Asthma
C. ☑ Heart failure
D. Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Jugular vein distention, peripheral edema, and fatigue are classic signs of right-sided
heart failure.
2. During a physical exam, a patient reports frequent headaches and blurred vision. You
measure their blood pressure as 180/110 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate
action?
A. Schedule routine follow-up
B. Recommend lifestyle changes only
C. ☑ Treat as hypertensive emergency and notify the provider immediately
D. Suggest over-the-counter medication
Rationale: Severe hypertension with symptoms requires urgent intervention to prevent organ
damage.
3. A patient complains of burning during urination and increased frequency. On assessment,
mild suprapubic tenderness is noted. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Kidney stones
B. ☑ Urinary tract infection (UTI)
C. Pyelonephritis
D. Bladder cancer
Rationale: Dysuria, frequency, and suprapubic tenderness are typical of lower urinary tract
infections.
4. While performing a cardiac assessment, you hear a systolic murmur at the apex radiating
to the axilla. Which valve is most likely affected?
A. Tricuspid
B. Pulmonic
,C. Aortic
D. ☑ Mitral
Rationale: A systolic murmur at the apex radiating to the axilla is characteristic of mitral
regurgitation.
5. During an abdominal assessment, you observe a patient with a rigid, distended abdomen
and rebound tenderness. The patient also reports severe pain. What condition should be
suspected?
A. Appendicitis
B. Cholecystitis
C. ☑ Peritonitis
D. Diverticulitis
Rationale: Rigid abdomen, rebound tenderness, and severe pain indicate peritoneal
inflammation.
6. A patient presents with a 3-day history of fever, productive cough with green sputum, and
pleuritic chest pain. Which finding would support the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia?
A. Clear lung sounds
B. ☑ Crackles and localized dullness on percussion
C. Wheezing
D. Normal chest X-ray
Rationale: Crackles and dullness on percussion are consistent with alveolar consolidation seen
in pneumonia.
7. During a neurological exam, a patient demonstrates weakness in the right arm and leg and
facial droop on the right side. Which condition is most likely?
A. Peripheral neuropathy
B. Parkinson’s disease
C. ☑ Left-sided cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
D. Multiple sclerosis
Rationale: Neurological deficits occur on the side opposite the brain lesion; right-sided
weakness indicates left hemisphere involvement.
8. A patient reports burning in the lower chest and a sour taste in the mouth after meals. The
patient is overweight and often lies down after eating. What is the most likely condition?
A. Gastritis
,B. Peptic ulcer disease
C. ☑ Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D. Esophageal cancer
Rationale: Heartburn after meals, sour taste, and lying down aggravate reflux, classic for GERD.
9. While assessing a patient’s lungs, you hear high-pitched musical sounds during exhalation.
The patient reports dyspnea and coughing. Which condition is most likely?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. ☑ Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Rationale: Wheezing, especially on exhalation, is a hallmark sign of asthma.
10. A patient presents with swelling in the ankles, fatigue, and a weight gain of 5 pounds in
one week. Which lab test would most likely confirm your suspicion?
A. Liver function tests
B. Complete blood count
C. ☑ B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
D. Thyroid function tests
Rationale: BNP is elevated in heart failure and correlates with fluid retention and symptoms.
11. During a head-to-toe assessment, you observe a patient with pale conjunctiva, brittle
nails, and glossitis. Which condition is most likely?
A. Vitamin D deficiency
B. ☑ Iron-deficiency anemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Rationale: Pallor, nail changes, and smooth tongue indicate iron-deficiency anemia.
12. A patient complains of frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss.
Blood glucose testing reveals elevated levels. Which type of diabetes is most consistent with
these findings?
A. Gestational diabetes
B. Type 2 diabetes
C. ☑ Type 1 diabetes
, D. Prediabetes
Rationale: Polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss are classic early symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
13. A patient presents with sudden severe right upper quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting
after a fatty meal. On assessment, Murphy’s sign is positive. Which condition should you
suspect?
A. Appendicitis
B. Pancreatitis
C. ☑ Cholecystitis
D. Hepatitis
Rationale: Right upper quadrant pain with a positive Murphy’s sign indicates gallbladder
inflammation.
14. During a musculoskeletal assessment, a patient reports joint stiffness, swelling, and
morning stiffness lasting over an hour. Which condition is most likely?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Gout
C. ☑ Rheumatoid arthritis
D. Fibromyalgia
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness and symmetrical joint involvement are characteristic of
rheumatoid arthritis.
15. A patient presents with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and dry skin. Laboratory
results show low T4 and elevated TSH. Which condition is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. ☑ Hypothyroidism
C. Addison’s disease
D. Cushing’s syndrome
Rationale: Low thyroid hormone and elevated TSH indicate primary hypothyroidism.
16. While assessing a patient’s skin, you notice a red, warm, swollen area with a central
blister on the lower leg. The patient reports pain and fever. Which condition is most likely?
A. Psoriasis
B. Cellulitis
C. ☑ Impetigo
