[Medical fitness for sports, with particular reference to cardiovascular conditions]

Whether a person is medically fit to engage in sports depends not only on his or her present state of health but also on his or her previous medical history, age, personality, and of course, the nature of the particular sport in question. Anyone that feels fit, is physically in good condition, abstains from tobacco, alcohol and other intoxicant stimulants, and passes a thorough medical examination is healthy and fully capable of taking part in any sport whatever. Participation in any form of sport, on the other hand, is absolutely contra-indicated for persons suffering from severe or malignant hypertension, inflammatory or bacterial heart disease, severe angina pectoris - especially with an attendant risk of myocardial infarction - or haemodynamically significant arrhythmias that manifest themselves during, or are aggravated by, physical exertion. Physical activity is generally deleterious in patients with advanced pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale, severe decompensated heart failure or severe renal insufficiency. Severe intercurrent infections also constitute an absolute contra-indication for sport. Between these two extremes of absolute fitness and absolute unfitness there are many intermediate states, e.g. diseases like essential hypertension (WHO Stages I and II), coronary disease and peripheral arterial circulatory disorders, in which patients can derive considerable benefit from properly chosen and carefully graded sporting activity.