Reasons to Stop an Exercise Test

Even after clearing contraindications, an in-progress test can produce general indications to terminate, used in non-diagnostic (no-physician, no-ECG) settings such as submaximal and field testing of apparently healthy people:

• Onset of angina or angina-like symptoms (chest, jaw, arm discomfort).
• Drop in systolic blood pressure (≥10 mmHg) despite increasing workload, or failure of SBP to rise.
• Excessive blood-pressure rise (SBP >250 mmHg and/or DBP >115 mmHg). (exact thresholds per current edition)
• Signs of poor perfusion: pallor, cyanosis, cold/clammy skin.
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, leg cramps, or claudication.
• Central nervous system symptoms: ataxia, dizziness, near-syncope, confusion.
• Noticeable change in heart rhythm (palpable irregularity) or failure of HR to rise with intensity.
• Subject requests to stop, or shows physical/verbal signs of severe fatigue.
• Equipment failure preventing safe monitoring.

In submaximal tests there is also a protocol endpoint (e.g., reaching 85% of age-predicted HRmax, or a target HR) at which the test ends by design even with no adverse signs.

• Terminate for: angina, SBP drop ≥10 mmHg with rising work, hypertensive response (~>250/115), CNS signs, poor perfusion, severe dyspnea/claudication, abnormal rhythm, or subject request.
• Submaximal tests also end at a planned HR endpoint (commonly 85% HRmax).
• "Subject asks to stop" is always a valid reason.
• In non-clinical settings, err toward stopping — there is no ECG to interpret subtle ischemia.