What blood pressure values require medical clearance before exercise?

What blood pressure values require medical clearance before exercise?

• A. Systolic >180 mmHg or <90 mmHg; diastolic >100 mmHg.
• B. Systolic >190 mmHg or <80 mmHg; diastolic >100 mmHg.
• C. Systolic >210 mmHg or <100 mmHg; diastolic >95 mmHg.
• D. Systolic >200 mmHg or <86 mmHg; diastolic >110 mmHg.

Answer: (D)

Resting blood pressure is a safety screen for exercise, and extreme readings warn you to get medical clearance before starting or increasing activity. The strongest signal here is that very high systolic pressure (above 200 mmHg) or very low systolic pressure (below about 86 mmHg) paired with a diastolic pressure above 110 mmHg represents a high-risk pattern. These readings indicate potential cardiovascular instability or conditions that could be worsened by exercise, so medical clearance before activity is advised. The other options use less extreme high thresholds or omit the low end, which would not flag the same urgent risk.

Resting blood pressure is a safety screen for exercise, and extreme readings warn you to get medical clearance before starting or increasing activity. The strongest signal here is that very high systolic pressure (above 200 mmHg) or very low systolic pressure (below about 86 mmHg) paired with a diastolic pressure above 110 mmHg represents a high-risk pattern. These readings indicate potential cardiovascular instability or conditions that could be worsened by exercise, so medical clearance before activity is advised. The other options use less extreme high thresholds or omit the low end, which would not flag the same urgent risk.