What blood pressure response is a relative indication to stop exercise testing?

What blood pressure response is a relative indication to stop exercise testing?

• A. A persistent drop in systolic blood pressure >10 mmHg below baseline despite increased workload
• B. A continuous rise of SBP
• C. A flat SBP with workload
• D. A rapid SBP increase with tachycardia

Answer: (A)

During graded exercise testing, the blood pressure response should rise as workload increases. A relative indicator to stop the test is when systolic blood pressure falls by more than about 10 mmHg from baseline despite continuing to push harder. This decline signals the heart isn’t meeting the increased demand, which can point to ischemia or marked dysfunction, and continuing the test could be unsafe. A steady rise in systolic pressure is the normal, expected response, so it doesn’t indicate stopping. If the pressure simply remains flat with increasing work, that’s abnormal and concerning, but it’s not the specific stopping sign described here. A rapid rise in systolic pressure with tachycardia may reflect an exaggerated hemodynamic response or other issues, but it’s not the criterion used for stopping in this scenario.

During graded exercise testing, the blood pressure response should rise as workload increases. A relative indicator to stop the test is when systolic blood pressure falls by more than about 10 mmHg from baseline despite continuing to push harder. This decline signals the heart isn’t meeting the increased demand, which can point to ischemia or marked dysfunction, and continuing the test could be unsafe.

A steady rise in systolic pressure is the normal, expected response, so it doesn’t indicate stopping. If the pressure simply remains flat with increasing work, that’s abnormal and concerning, but it’s not the specific stopping sign described here. A rapid rise in systolic pressure with tachycardia may reflect an exaggerated hemodynamic response or other issues, but it’s not the criterion used for stopping in this scenario.