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170 Section 2: Cardiovascular risk factors

Mark any of the following statements that apply:

o You are a man older than 45. o You are a woman older than 55 or you have had a hysterectomy or are postmenopausal. o You smoke. o Your blood pressure is greater than 140/90 or you do not know your blood pressure. o You take blood pressure medication. o Your cholesterol level is greater than 240mg/dl or you do not know your cholesterol level. o You have a close relative who had a heart attack before age 55 (father or brother) or 65 (mother or sister). o You have diabetes or take medicine to control your blood sugar. o You are physically inactive (i.e., you get less than 0 minutes of physical activity at least three days each week). o You are more than 20 pounds overweight.

If any two or more of the statements in Section 2 apply, consult your health care provider before engaging in exercise. You might benefit from using a facility with a professionally qualified staff to guide your exercise program.

If none of the above statements in Section 1 and 2 are applicable, you should be able to exercise safely in almost any facility that meets your exercise program needs without consulting your health care provider.

Adopted from Balady GJ, et al. Recommendations for Cardiovascular Screening, Staffing, and Emergency Policies at Health/Fitness Facilities. Circulation 1998; 97:2283-2293. doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.97.22.2283