Do You Need to Talk to Your Doctor Before You Start an Exercise Program?
Do You Need to Talk to Your Doctor Before You Start an Exercise Program?
For many people, starting an exercise program for the first time is quite safe. But depending on your age and whether you have certain cardiovascular risk factors, you may need to see your doctor before starting a program of vigorous (as opposed to moderate) aerobic activity. The American Council on Exercise offers the following advice to help you determine if you need a doctor's permission before starting an exercise program.
General Guidelines
- Family history of heart attack or sudden death
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
Specific Questions to Ask Yourself
- Do you have a heart condition? Should you only do exercises that your doctor recommends?
- Do you have chest pain or discomfort when you are physically active? Do you have this pain even when you are not exercising?
- Does your heart often beat too fast or too slow when you are at rest?
- Do you become dizzy, lose your balance, or lose consciousness? During the past year, have you fallen more than two times?
- Do you have problems with your bones or joints? If so, does this problem become worse when you exercise? Do your legs or buttocks hurt when you walk?
- Do you take medicines to treat a heart condition or a blood pressure problem?
- Do you have any wounds on your feet? Do these wounds take a long time to heal?
- During the past six months, have you lost weight for no apparent reason?
- Can you think of any reason why you should not get involved in an exercise program?
RESOURCES
American Council on Exercise http://www.acefitness.org/
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports http://www.fitness.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology http://www.csep.ca/
Healthy Living Unit http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/fitness/
References
Before you start an exercise program. American Council on Exercise website. Available at: http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts%5Fdisplay.aspx?itemid=2612. Accessed May 14, 2012.
Coronary arter disease (CAD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated May 14, 2012. Accessed May 14, 2012.
Fletcher GF, Balady G, Blair SN, et al. A statement for health professionals by the Committee on Exercise and Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Council in Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association. Circulation 1996; 94:857.
Fletcher GF, Balady G, Froelicher VF, et al. Exercise standards. A statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association. Circulation 1995; 91:580.
Lemaitre RN, Siscovick DS, Raghunathan TE, et al. Leisure-time physical activity and the risk of primary cardiac arrest. Arch Intern Med 1999; 159:686.
Powell KE, Thompson PD, Cespersen CJ, Kendrick JS. Physical activity and the incidence of coronary heart disease. Annu Rev Public Health . 1987; 8:253.
