APEA Cardiac Questions and Answers
| Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct &
Verified
What is the most common symptom of congestive heart failure?
✔✔Shortness of breath
Which medication is the first-line treatment for hypertension?
✔✔Thiazide diuretics
What heart sound is commonly heard in mitral valve prolapse?
✔✔Mid-systolic click
What is the hallmark ECG finding in atrial fibrillation?
✔✔Irregularly irregular rhythm without distinct P waves
Which lab test is used to diagnose a myocardial infarction?
✔✔Troponin I or T
1
,What is the best initial treatment for stable angina?
✔✔Nitroglycerin
What is the characteristic chest pain description in pericarditis?
✔✔Sharp, pleuritic chest pain that improves when sitting up and leaning forward
Which valve is most commonly affected by rheumatic heart disease?
✔✔Mitral valve
What is the classic triad of symptoms in infective endocarditis?
✔✔Fever, new murmur, and positive blood cultures
What is the mechanism of action of beta-blockers in heart failure?
✔✔Decrease heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand
What is the preferred medication to control ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation?
✔✔Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
2
, What is the main complication of untreated hypertension?
✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy
Which condition causes a widened pulse pressure and bounding pulses?
✔✔Aortic regurgitation
What is the first diagnostic test for suspected deep vein thrombosis?
✔✔Venous duplex ultrasound
What is the target LDL cholesterol level in high-risk cardiovascular patients?
✔✔Less than 70 mg/dL
Which medication is contraindicated in patients with heart block?
✔✔Beta-blockers
What physical exam finding is characteristic of aortic stenosis?
✔✔Systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur heard best at the right upper sternal border
3
| Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct &
Verified
What is the most common symptom of congestive heart failure?
✔✔Shortness of breath
Which medication is the first-line treatment for hypertension?
✔✔Thiazide diuretics
What heart sound is commonly heard in mitral valve prolapse?
✔✔Mid-systolic click
What is the hallmark ECG finding in atrial fibrillation?
✔✔Irregularly irregular rhythm without distinct P waves
Which lab test is used to diagnose a myocardial infarction?
✔✔Troponin I or T
1
,What is the best initial treatment for stable angina?
✔✔Nitroglycerin
What is the characteristic chest pain description in pericarditis?
✔✔Sharp, pleuritic chest pain that improves when sitting up and leaning forward
Which valve is most commonly affected by rheumatic heart disease?
✔✔Mitral valve
What is the classic triad of symptoms in infective endocarditis?
✔✔Fever, new murmur, and positive blood cultures
What is the mechanism of action of beta-blockers in heart failure?
✔✔Decrease heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand
What is the preferred medication to control ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation?
✔✔Beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
2
, What is the main complication of untreated hypertension?
✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy
Which condition causes a widened pulse pressure and bounding pulses?
✔✔Aortic regurgitation
What is the first diagnostic test for suspected deep vein thrombosis?
✔✔Venous duplex ultrasound
What is the target LDL cholesterol level in high-risk cardiovascular patients?
✔✔Less than 70 mg/dL
Which medication is contraindicated in patients with heart block?
✔✔Beta-blockers
What physical exam finding is characteristic of aortic stenosis?
✔✔Systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur heard best at the right upper sternal border
3
