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S Health
You should also check with your doctor if you have
symptoms suggestive of heart, lung, or other serious
disease, such as:
•
Pain or discomfort in your chest, neck, jaw, or arms
during physical activity;
•
Dizziness or loss of consciousness;
•
Shortness of breath with mild exertion or at rest, or
when lying down or going to bed;
•
Ankle swelling, especially at night;
•
A heart murmur or a rapid or pronounced
heartbeat;
•
Muscle pain when walking upstairs or up a hill that
goes away when you rest.
Finally, the American College of Sports Medicine
recommends that you see your doctor before
engaging in vigorous exercise if two or more of the
following apply:
•
You are a man older than age 45 or a woman older
than age 55;
•
You have a family history of heart disease before
age 55;
•
You smoke or quit smoking in the past six months;
•
You have not exercised for three months or more;
•
You are overweight or obese;
•
You have high blood pressure or high cholesterol;
•
You have impaired glucose tolerance, also called
prediabetes.
When in Doubt — Check It Out
If you are unsure of your health status, have several
health problems, or are pregnant, you should speak
with your doctor before starting a new exercise
program. Working with your doctor ahead of time is a
good way to plan an exercise program that is right and
safe for you. Consider it the first step on your path to
physical fitness.
