The following is reprinted from the President's Council On Physical Fitness Manual, Edited by Neil Sol et. al.

IS A PHYSICAL EXAM NECESSARY?

The decision to consult a physician for examination before entering an exercise program is one that you should make only after some deliberation. The following guidelines are offered to indicate the health and lifestyle factors which have been considered risks to someone entering an exercise program. If you fit the following risk description, consulting a physician to screen your participation can provide early detection of potential problems and offer guidelines for your safe involvement in physical activity.

A) Based upon statistics, people over 35 years old are at greater risk for the effects of heart disease than in their earlier years.

B) At any age, the following conditions are risk factors:

• Sedentary lifestyle for several years.
• More than 20 pounds overweight.
• Any history of heart problems in your immediate family.
• Pain or pressure in your chest during any vigorous activity (e.g., climbing steps).
• Prescribed medication used on a regular basis.
• High blood pressure.
• High blood-cholesterol.
• Cigarette smoking.
• Any history of lung disorder.
• Diabetes, or any chronic illness.
• Any disease of your joints or muscles which could be aggravated by physical activity.

Your consultation with a physician should consist of a complete medical history, resting and stress electrocardiogram, blood analysis, neurological and orthopedic status, urinalysis, chest x-ray, pulmonary function evaluation, and a coronary risk profile. These tests should provide your physician with the necessary data to evaluate your current state of health.