- Cardiovascular disease, defined as: any acute cardiovascular abnormality, such as new or unstable angina, uncontrolled irregular heart beat (treated a-fib and occasional PVC's are OK) or symptomatic heart failure, acute shortness of breath for any reason, or clinically significant edema, is an exclusion. History in the last year of myocardial infarction, angina, coronary artery angioplasty, bypass grafting, pacemaker insertion, STENT placement, postural hypotension, transient ischemic attack, or carotid artery surgery.