Which situation is an absolute contraindication to symptom-limited exercise testing?

Which situation is an absolute contraindication to symptom-limited exercise testing?

• A. Uncontrolled hypertension.
• B. Active endocarditis.
• C. Unstable angina.
• D. Acute myocardial infarction within 2 days.

Answer: (D)

Symptom-limited exercise testing must be avoided when the risk of harming the heart during exertion is too high. A myocardial infarction that happened within the last two days is the clearest case: the heart muscle is acutely injured and electrically unstable, so adding exercise can trigger reinfarction, dangerous arrhythmias, or sudden deterioration. That makes it an absolute contraindication to performing the test. The other scenarios describe serious conditions that often lead clinicians to postpone or modify testing, but the recent MI within two days is the most definitive restriction in standard practice.

Symptom-limited exercise testing must be avoided when the risk of harming the heart during exertion is too high. A myocardial infarction that happened within the last two days is the clearest case: the heart muscle is acutely injured and electrically unstable, so adding exercise can trigger reinfarction, dangerous arrhythmias, or sudden deterioration. That makes it an absolute contraindication to performing the test.

The other scenarios describe serious conditions that often lead clinicians to postpone or modify testing, but the recent MI within two days is the most definitive restriction in standard practice.