Question

STUDY QUESTIONS 1. Discuss each individual ACSM Risk Factor Threshold. Specifically, how do the individual ACSM Risk Factor Thresholds match up with the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for coro- nary heart disease listed by the AHA? 2. Given the 2013 scientific statement from the AHA as well as the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, does the ACSM preparticipation physical activity screening guidelines aid or hinder the concept of increasing physical activity behavior of all Americans? 3. Diabetes is relatively stressed in the ACSM preparticipation physical activity screening guide lines. (Diabetes is a CMR disease.) What are some of the complications of diabetes that justifies its inclusion in the preparticipation guidelines?

Answer 1

Risk factors are the factors that enhances a person’s risk of developing a particular disease. For example, obesity is considered as a risk factor for heart disease. The risk factor thresholds are set up to analyze the chances of a person developing a disease. Thresholds are considered as the optimum value beyond which a condition is represented as abnormal. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has set up different risk factor thresholds to judge the condition of a person. The individual risk factor threshold for various diseases involve age, family history, cigarette smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, dyslipidemia, pre-diabetes, major signs and symptoms and negative risk factors.

The modifiable risk factors for CVD involve obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased cholesterol. However, the non-modifiable risk factors for CVD involve family history, race, age and gender. According to the AHA almost 80% of the deaths from CVD are from the people over 65 years of age. The threshold set for age are over or equal to 45 for men and 55 for women as per the ACSM, which match up to the AHA. Cigarette smoking with current or quit within last 6 months in addition to prolonged secondary exposure is also at the threshold risk factor as per the ACSM and the modifiable risk factors for CVD as per the AHA suggest that cigarette smoking can be controlled and it is a major cause of heart failure, high blood pressure and CVD in people. Moreover, BMI greater than or equal to 30 with the waist circumference of 40in for men and 35in for women is at the risk of CVD. The modifiable risk factors for CVD indicate obesity as a cause of CVD however, it also indicate that men are at greater risk of developing CVD prior to women. This is quite relatable to the risk thresholds set up by the ACSM.