Why can exercise be dangerous?

• A. Exercises increase an individual's risk of getting fatally injured.
• B. If someone has a chronic condition, excessive exercise can be lethal.
• C. If someone is old, exercise can increase the risk of dying from a heart attack.
• D. Whether young or old, exercise increases an individual's risk of dying from dehydration.

Answer: (B)

Exercise can be dangerous when a person has a chronic condition because their body may not tolerate the added stress of physical activity the same way as someone without that condition. Vigorous activity increases heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen demand, and for someone with a chronic heart, lung, or metabolic issue, that increased demand can trigger dangerous events, including life-threatening situations if the activity is excessive or unsupervised. This is why medical clearance, a carefully individualized exercise plan, and gradual progression are essential for safety. Signs like chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, or extreme fatigue mean stop and seek care.

The other ideas aren’t as accurate because exercise is not inherently dangerous for everyone; many people can exercise safely with proper guidance. While dehydration can be a concern, it’s not the fundamental reason exercise can be dangerous for those with chronic conditions, and age alone doesn’t automatically make exercise deadly—it's the medical context that matters.