The American Heart Association has declared that a basic physical fitness test is necessary to include as a vital sign measure in a person's health profile. should include a satisfactory stress test together with heart rate, blood pressure and body thermal reading. Although their decision says that it is only a suggestion, they do hope that this would have a meaningful effect as it is also a crucial part in fitness assessment. The New York Times A group of professional health experts made up the said special body that issued the announcement.
There have been previous researches done but it is only recently that AHA has finally decided that physical fitness is necessary to consider as one of the basic tests for a person's vital signs. There was no conclusion of the same type as they "consider it to be relatively less important than other risk factors," so it was never acknowledged as a crucial part. However, a significant number of previous researches resulted that there is definitely a connection between an unsatisfactory physical strength or endurance to stress and heart problems and other high risk disease. Still, they were not sure whether it is a good idea to include this type of test as it is believed to be more troublesome.
Now that the group has reached an agreement that a standard stress test is critical in achieving a satisfactory assessment of a person's overall health profile, it is expected that basic health checks become more thorough. The decision, though, is still not to be imposed forcibly, so there is still room for choice. But the specialists suggest that in case an individual is not in good shape, to refer with their own physician for a good aerobic fitness program for a better over-all health profile. This would also lessen the danger of developing diseases like heart failure and other high risk illnesses. BBC News
