Cardiovascular pharmacology Practice Questions
20 free Cardiovascular pharmacology practice questions for the USMLE Step 1, each with the correct answer and a detailed explanation. Open any question below, or take the full set as an interactive quiz.
Questions
20 questions
All Cardiovascular pharmacology questions
- Q1. Which drug class lowers blood pressure primarily by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and increasing bradykinin levels?
- Q2. Which antihypertensive drug reduces cardiac output by blocking β₁-adrenergic receptors, thereby decreasing heart rate and contractility?
- Q3. Which class of antihypertensive drugs works by blocking L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle to reduce peripheral resistance?
- Q4. Which diuretic acts on the distal convoluted tubule by inhibiting the Na⁺/Cl⁻ cotransporter, leading to lowered blood pressure?
- Q5. Why are angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) sometimes used instead of ACE inhibitors?
- Q6. A patient with essential hypertension and osteoporosis may benefit from which antihypertensive drug due to favorable bone effects?
- Q7. Which antihypertensive class typically causes ankle edema and headache due to arteriolar dilation?
- Q8. Which medication would be most appropriate for acute hypertensive emergency requiring rapid vasodilation?
- Q9. Why might a β-blocker worsen asthma symptoms in a patient with reactive airway disease?
- Q10. Which antihypertensive drug can trigger a persistent dry cough as a side effect?
- Q11. A patient with hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may benefit from which antihypertensive class because it improves urinary symptoms?
- Q12. Which antihypertensive mechanism acts by reducing circulating blood volume through increased sodium and water excretion?
- Q13. A patient with hypertension and type 2 diabetes is started on losartan. Which additional benefit besides BP reduction does losartan provide?
- Q14. Which calcium channel blocker class predominantly affects vascular smooth muscle rather than cardiac conduction and contractility?
- Q15. Which statement about combining a thiazide diuretic with a β-blocker is correct?
- Q16. Which antihypertensive agent is contraindicated in pregnancy because of teratogenic risk to the fetus?
- Q17. Which antihypertensive drug class works in part by reducing aldosterone-mediated sodium and water retention?
- Q18. A patient with chronic hypertension has difficulty with adherence to multiple medications. Which strategy is often used to improve compliance?
- Q19. Which antihypertensive class tends to be more effective at lowering systolic blood pressure in older adults compared to beta-blockers?
- Q20. Which antihypertensive treatment would you choose for a patient with high BP and asthma to avoid bronchoconstriction?