• Different age thresholds exist because males develop cardiovascular disease earlier than females on average
• The reason for this is that males at 45 years face similar cardiovascular risks to females at 55 years due to gender/hormonal differences.
• The purpose of the difference in thresholds is to ensure screening captures high-risk individuals at the most appropriate age for each gender.
• For instance, a 47-year-old male has comparable heart attack risk to a 55-year-old female.
• This allows fitness professionals to apply evidence-based risk assessment that reflects actual health statistics.

Answers could include any three of the following:

• Age factors: Males over 45 years and females over 55 years are considered high-risk for health screening purposes due to their increased chance of cardiovascular events.
• Medical history: Having conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or respiratory conditions such as asthma increases exercise risks.
• Family history: If close relatives have heart disease or have experienced heart attacks, this potentially raises an individual’s risk level to high.
• Low physical activity: People who are sedentary or inactive have higher risks when starting exercise. At extreme levels, this risk factor can tip an individual into a high-risk grouping.

• First, stop any planned physical assessment or exercise testing immediately.
• Inform the client they need medical clearance before starting any exercise program due to identified risk factors.
• Refer the client to their general practitioner or appropriate medical specialist for assessment.
• Document all identified risk factors and provide this information to the client for their doctor.
• Only proceed with exercise programming after receiving written medical clearance with any specific guidelines or restrictions.
• Follow all medical recommendations when designing the exercise program.

• High-risk groups include people with conditions like heart disease, diabetes or asthma. This is due to these conditions making exercise more dangerous.
• Screening identifies these risks early. This can occur through a questionnaire that asks about medical history, family health and current activity levels.
• From these results, exercise professionals are able to recommend medical clearance before training begins.
• This process ensures safer participation. Programs are consequently built with limits that protect the client’s health.
• For instance, when someone has diabetes, a program can include regular breaks to check blood sugar.
• This demonstrates why screening is not just a formality. It is the first step in preventing medical emergencies.
• In this way, high-risk clients are given programs that are safe, achievable and more likely to help them reach their goals.

• B is correct: The cardiovascular medication affects heart rate response, making traditional heart rate-based training zones invalid.

Other options:

• A is incorrect: While age > 45 is relevant for initial screening, it is less critical than the heart medication’s potential impact.
• C is incorrect: His moderate activity level is actually positive, showing established exercise tolerance.
• D is incorrect: Three years post-heart attack with current activity suggests stable recovery, making this less critical than ongoing medication effects.

• C is correct: Male aged 47 (high-risk age group for men) with high cholesterol and family history of heart disease meets multiple high-risk criteria.

Other options:

• A is incorrect: Under 45 years with only overweight status doesn’t require mandatory clearance.
• B is incorrect: Controlled condition with current activity suggests stable management without immediate clearance needs.
• D is incorrect: Under high risk age of 55 for women and previous injury alone doesn’t mandate medical clearance.

• C is correct: The client’s asthma is likely well-managed. The fitness professional can proceed with appropriate modifications and monitoring for symptoms.

Other options:

• A is incorrect: A high-intensity exercise without considering her asthma could trigger severe breathing difficulties.
• B is incorrect: Since she is already exercising regularly, she doesn’t require immediate medical referral unless symptoms worsen.
• D is incorrect: This is unnecessarily restrictive given her current activity level of 4 days per week demonstrates good exercise tolerance.

• D is correct: A family history of heart disease combined with low activity places the client in a higher-risk category, requiring medical clearance before training.

Other options:

• A is incorrect: Even low-intensity training may pose risk without clearance.
• B is incorrect: Age does not remove the significance of cardiovascular risk factors.
• C is incorrect: Self-selecting exercise ignores professional responsibility for safe programming.

• D is correct: Controlled hypertension is a recognised high-risk condition requiring medical oversight before commencing exercise.

Other options:

• A is incorrect: A family history of diabetes alone does not automatically necessitate referral.
• B is incorrect: Regular sport participation without medical conditions does not require clearance.
• C is incorrect: Arthritis may require program modification, but it is not automatically high-risk like cardiovascular conditions.