A patient with Type 2 diabetes has a fasting blood glucose of 145 mg/dL. This value is classified as:

Diabetic. A fasting blood glucose of 145 mg/dL is classified as diabetic. The diagnostic criteria are: Normal = 126 mg/dL on two separate occasions. At 145 mg/dL, this patient is well above the diabetic threshold.

A patient presents with cold intolerance, weight gain, fatigue, and dry skin. These symptoms are most consistent with:

Hypothyroidism. Cold intolerance, weight gain, fatigue, and dry skin are classic symptoms of hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones). In hypothyroidism, TSH is elevated because the pituitary gland is trying to stimulate the underactive thyroid. The most common cause is Hashimoto thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition. Hyperthyroidism would present with the opposite symptoms: heat intolerance, weight loss, nervousness, and warm/moist skin.

Which blood pressure reading would be classified as Stage 2 hypertension?

148/94 mmHg. A reading of 148/94 mmHg is Stage 2 hypertension (systolic >= 140 OR diastolic >= 90). The reading 118/76 is normal, 128/78 is elevated, and 136/86 is Stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89). Blood pressure classification is based on the higher category -- if systolic and diastolic fall into different categories, the higher one determines the classification.

Which type of hepatitis is transmitted through the fecal-oral route?

Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, typically from contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids (sexually, needle sticks, mother-to-child). Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood (IV drug use, needle sticks). Hepatitis D only occurs as a co-infection with Hepatitis B.

A patient with COPD who has a barrel-shaped chest and uses pursed-lip breathing is most likely exhibiting signs of:

Emphysema. Emphysema is characterized by destruction of alveolar walls, leading to air trapping that causes a barrel-shaped chest. Patients with emphysema are often called "pink puffers" because they use pursed-lip breathing to maintain oxygenation and tend to be thin. Chronic bronchitis patients ("blue bloaters") are characterized by a chronic productive cough and cyanosis.

Key Takeaways

Diabetes mellitus Type 1 is autoimmune destruction of beta cells; Type 2 is insulin resistance, and both are tested frequently on the RMA exam
Hypertension is classified as Stage 1 (130-139/80-89) and Stage 2 (140+/90+) per AHA/ACC guidelines
COPD includes chronic bronchitis (productive cough) and emphysema (alveolar destruction) and is primarily caused by smoking
Hypothyroidism (low T3/T4, high TSH) causes fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance; hyperthyroidism causes the opposite symptoms
Anemia can be iron-deficiency, pernicious (B12 deficiency), sickle cell (inherited hemoglobin disorder), or aplastic (bone marrow failure)
Chronic kidney disease is classified into 5 stages based on GFR, with Stage 5 requiring dialysis or transplant
Common cancers tested include breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, and skin (basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma)
Autoimmune disorders (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis) occur when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues

Common Diseases & Disorders

The RMA exam tests your understanding of common diseases and disorders, including their pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic indicators, and basic treatment approaches. Medical assistants must recognize conditions to support physicians in patient care and education.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Condition	Description	Key Signs/Symptoms
Hypertension	Persistent elevated blood pressure (>130/80)	Often asymptomatic ("silent killer"); headache, dizziness in severe cases
Coronary artery disease (CAD)	Atherosclerotic plaque narrows coronary arteries	Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue
Myocardial infarction (MI)	Complete blockage of coronary artery; heart muscle death	Crushing chest pain, left arm/jaw pain, diaphoresis, nausea, dyspnea
Congestive heart failure (CHF)	Heart cannot pump blood efficiently	Edema (peripheral/pulmonary), dyspnea, fatigue, weight gain
Arrhythmias	Abnormal heart rhythm	Palpitations, dizziness, syncope, chest discomfort
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)	Blood clot in deep veins (usually legs)	Unilateral leg swelling, warmth, redness, pain
Peripheral arterial disease	Reduced blood flow to extremities	Claudication (leg pain with walking), cool/pale extremities, weak pulses

Blood Pressure Classification (AHA/ACC Guidelines)

Category	Systolic (mmHg)	Diastolic (mmHg)
Normal	< 120	< 80
Elevated	120-129	< 80
Stage 1 Hypertension	130-139	80-89
Stage 2 Hypertension	>= 140	>= 90
Hypertensive Crisis	> 180	> 120

Endocrine Disorders

Diabetes Mellitus

Feature	Type 1	Type 2
Cause	Autoimmune destruction of beta cells	Insulin resistance + beta cell dysfunction
Onset	Usually childhood/adolescence	Usually adults (increasingly in younger adults)
Insulin production	Little to none	Reduced or ineffective
Treatment	Insulin injections (required)	Diet, exercise, oral medications, possibly insulin
Body habitus	Typically normal or thin	Often overweight or obese
Ketoacidosis risk	High (DKA)	Lower (can occur in severe illness)
% of cases	~5-10%	~90-95%

Key lab values for diabetes:

Fasting glucose: Normal < 100 mg/dL; Pre-diabetic 100-125 mg/dL; Diabetic >= 126 mg/dL
HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin): Normal < 5.7%; Pre-diabetic 5.7-6.4%; Diabetic >= 6.5%
Random glucose: Diabetic >= 200 mg/dL with symptoms

Thyroid Disorders

Feature	Hypothyroidism	Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid hormones	Low T3, Low T4	High T3, High T4
TSH level	High (pituitary tries to stimulate)	Low (pituitary suppressed)
Metabolism	Slowed	Increased
Weight	Weight gain	Weight loss
Temperature	Cold intolerance	Heat intolerance
Heart rate	Bradycardia	Tachycardia
Skin	Dry, coarse	Warm, moist
Energy	Fatigue, sluggishness	Nervousness, tremors
Common cause	Hashimoto thyroiditis	Graves disease

Respiratory Disorders

Condition	Description	Key Features
Asthma	Chronic airway inflammation with reversible bronchoconstriction	Wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness; triggered by allergens, exercise, cold air
COPD -- Chronic bronchitis	Chronic inflammation of bronchi with excessive mucus production	Productive cough ("blue bloater"), dyspnea, cyanosis
COPD -- Emphysema	Destruction of alveolar walls reducing gas exchange surface	Barrel chest ("pink puffer"), dyspnea on exertion, pursed-lip breathing
Pneumonia	Infection of lung parenchyma (bacterial, viral, fungal)	Fever, productive cough, chest pain, crackles/rales on auscultation
Tuberculosis	Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection	Night sweats, weight loss, hemoptysis, positive PPD/TB skin test
Pulmonary embolism	Blood clot lodges in pulmonary artery	Sudden dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia; often from DVT

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Condition	Description	Key Features
GERD	Stomach acid refluxes into esophagus	Heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia; worse after meals and lying down
Peptic ulcer disease	Erosion of stomach or duodenal lining	Epigastric pain; often caused by H. pylori or NSAID use
Crohn's disease	Inflammatory bowel disease affecting any GI segment	Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, skip lesions
Ulcerative colitis	Inflammatory bowel disease affecting colon/rectum only	Bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, continuous inflammation
Hepatitis	Liver inflammation (A -- fecal-oral; B -- blood/body fluids; C -- blood)	Jaundice, fatigue, dark urine, elevated liver enzymes
Gallstones (cholelithiasis)	Hardened deposits in gallbladder	Right upper quadrant pain (especially after fatty meals), nausea

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Condition	Description	Key Features
Osteoarthritis	Degenerative joint disease; cartilage breakdown	Pain worse with activity, joint stiffness, crepitus; commonly in knees, hips, hands
Rheumatoid arthritis	Autoimmune; synovial membrane inflammation	Morning stiffness > 1 hour, bilateral joint involvement, fatigue
Osteoporosis	Loss of bone density and mass	Silent until fracture; risk factors include post-menopausal women, low calcium
Fibromyalgia	Chronic widespread pain with tender points	Fatigue, sleep disturbances, widespread musculoskeletal pain

Renal/Urinary Disorders

Condition	Description	Key Features
Urinary tract infection (UTI)	Bacterial infection of urinary tract	Dysuria, frequency, urgency, cloudy/foul-smelling urine; E. coli most common
Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)	Mineral crystals form in kidneys	Severe flank pain (renal colic), hematuria, nausea
Chronic kidney disease	Progressive loss of kidney function	Staged by GFR; Stage 5 (GFR < 15) requires dialysis
Acute renal failure	Sudden loss of kidney function	Oliguria, elevated BUN/creatinine, electrolyte imbalances

RMA Registered Medical Assistant Exam

1Introduction: RMA (AMT) Exam Overview

2Chapter 1: Anatomy & Physiology (20.9%)

3Chapter 2: Administrative Medical Assisting (26.7%)

4Chapter 3: Clinical Procedural Tasks (18.6%)

5Chapter 4: Clinical Patient Interaction (33.8%)

6Chapter 5: Exam Strategy & Practice