Question about AHA/ACSM Pre-Screening Questionnaire - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Dinah]

I am planning on using the AHA/ACSM Pre-Screening Questionnaire with clients. Since the form asks people to check off whether or not their total cholesterol is >200 mg/dL, would asking about HDL not even matter? In other words, if their TC is over 200, their HDL could not possibly be over 60? I am guessing the answer is "no" because it would be a question on the form.

Please advise.

[Murray]

Hey Dinah,

To my knowledge, it is possible to have an HDL >60 mg/dL and a total serum cholesterol of >200 mg/dL. But according to the ACSM Risk Stratification, they cancel each other out because:

HDL > 60 mg/dL = Negative Risk Factor
Total Serum Cholesterol > 200 mg/dL = Positive Risk Factor

Hope this helps!

[Dinah]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for ringing in on this one. I would agree with you. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised that ACSM would omit something like this on what is probably the most important form that a potential client would fill out.

Maybe I should go directly to the source to see what they say!

Dinah