Absolute and Relative Contraindications to Exercise

Absolute Contraindications:

• Recent myocardial infarction (<2 days), recent acute cardiac event or change in resting ECG suggesting significant ischemia

• Unstable angina

• Uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmias causing symptoms or haemodynamic compromise 

• Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis 

• Uncontrolled symptomatic heart failure

• Acute pulmonaru embolus or pulmonary infarction

• Acute myocarditis or pericarditis

• Suspected or known dissecting aneurysm

• Acute systemic infarction, accompanied by fever, body aches or swollen lymph glands 

Relative Contraindications:

• Left main coronary stenosis 

• Moderate stenotic valvular heart disease

• Electrolyte abnormalities

• Severe arterial hypertension (i.e. systolic BP BP >200mmHg and/or diastolic BP >110mmHg at rest)

• tachydysrhythmia or bradysrhythmia 

• Hypertropic cardiomyopathy and other forms of outflow tract obstruction

• Neuromotor, musculoskeletal or rheumatoid disorders that are exacerbated by exercise 

• High-degree atrioventricular block

• Ventricular aneurism

• Uncontrolled metabolic disease

• Chronic infectious disease (e.g. HIV)

• Mental or physical impairment leading to inability to exercise adequately