It’s certainly good news if you’ve made the decision to get ‘back in the game’ and start to do exercise again to improve your health.
Exercising for at least 150 minutes per week (2 ½ hours) and eating nutritious food are two of the best things you can do to reap the health benefits derived from living a healthy lifestyle.
But do you need to see a doctor before you start to exercise if you’ve not done any physical activity in a while?
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Are You Ready To Start to Exercise Again?
Even if you don’t have any health issues, it’s a good idea to get a checkup first if you’ve been sedentary. Even a walking program can be dangerous if you have certain health issues. That way the doctor can run some tests to see if your lungs, cardiovascular system and joints can withstand the strain that exercising puts on the body.
It’s imperative to get checked out if you have any existing health issues that could be exacerbated by exercising, such as:
- Being pregnant
- Have heart disease
- Diagnosed with asthma or other respiratory disease like COPD
- Have Type 1 or Type II diabetes
- Suffering from kidney disease
- Had cancer or currently being treated for it
Your doctor can give you recommendations as far as an exercise (and nutrition) program that you can use to get to your goals for taking back up exercising in the first place. He (or she) can also provide a list of exercises you shouldn’t do because of a physical issue you may have.
For instance, if you have bad knees, you probably should not do high impact cardio exercises, such as running or jogging, but cycling and water aerobics may be fine.
Other Considerations
Other symptoms that should trigger a doctor’s visit before you start to do exercise is if you notice any of the following:
- Ankle swelling at night
- Diagnosed heart murmur
- Lower leg pain when walking
- Shortness of breath during mild exertion
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when exerting oneself
- Pain or tightness in the chest
- Unsteady on your feet
The American College of Sports Medicine also has a list of conditions that if two or more apply to you, you should see a doctor before starting an exercise program:
- Over 35 years old
- Significantly overweight
- A smoker
- High cholesterol
- Have impaired glucose tolerance, also known as prediabetes
- Have a family history of heart disease before age 60
- You don’t normally exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week
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If you start to do exercise again after a long period of being sedentary without first checking with your doctor it can lead to other health issues if not first cleared by your doctor.
You don’t begin exercising by running a marathon. You make small steps that begin to accumulate into a larger fitness practice. Download my free report, 20 Ways To Make Your Lifestyle More Active to learn simple, safe and actionable ways to impact your health and fitness in a positive manner.
