Am I healthy enough to take the test?
The risk associated with exercise or exercise testing varies with a person’s health status. Exercise testing performed on healthy adults results in a low number of abnormal cardiovascular events, such as dizziness, fainting, irregular heartbeats, and sometimes, heart attack. The same tests performed on adults with some diseases or risk factors for diseases place them in a higher-risk category for cardiovascular events. During exercise testing, the overall risk in adults is low with about 6 abnormal cardiovascular events per 10,000 people tested (American College of Sports Medicine. (2005). Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 12-13).
Assess your health needs by marking all true statements.
History
You have had:
- __ a heart attack
- __ heart surgery
- __ cardiac catheterization
- __ coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
- __ pacemaker/implantable cardiac defibrillator/rhythm disturbance
- __ heart valve disease
- __ heart failure
- __ heart transplantation
- __ congenital heart disease
Symptoms
- __ You experience chest discomfort with exertion.
- __ You experience unreasonable breathlessness.
- __ You experience dizziness, fainting, blackouts.
- __ You take heart medications.
Other health issues
- __ You have diabetes.
- __ You have asthma or other lung disease.
- __ You have burning or cramping sensation in your lower legs when walking short distances.
- __ You have musculoskeletal problems that limit your physical activity.
- __ You have concerns about the safety of exercise.
- __ You take prescription medication(s).
- __ You are pregnant.
If you marked any of the statements in this section, consult your healthcare provider before engaging in exercise. You may need to use a facility with a medically qualified staff.
Cardiovascular risk factors
- __ You are a man older than 45 years.
- __ You are a woman older than 55 years, have had a hysterectomy, or are postmenopausal.
- __ You smoke, or quit smoking within the previous 6 months.
- __ Your blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mm Hg.
- __ You do not know your blood pressure.
- __ You take blood pressure medication.
- __ Your blood cholesterol level is greater than 200 mg/dL.
- __ You do not know your cholesterol level.
- __ You have a close blood relative who had a heart attack or heart surgery before age 55 (father or brother) or age 65 (mother or sister).
- __ You are physically inactive (for example, you get less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least 5 days per week or less than 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity on less than 3 days per week).
- __ You are more than 20 pounds overweight.
If you marked two or more of the statements in this section you should consult with your physician or other appropriate health care provider before engaging in exercise. You might benefit from using a facility with a professionally qualified exercise staff to guide your exercise program.
If you marked this statement you should be able to exercise safely on your own without consulting your physician or other appropriate health care provider.
Reprinted with permission by the American College of Sports Medicine.