Regular physical activity is fun and healthy, and increasingly more folks are starting to get off the couch and exercise. But engaging in any kind of activity could pose danger if you’re not careful from the get-go.

Before you start a get-fit program, here are seven questions to ask yourself to decide whether a doctor's visit should come first: 

1. Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity recommended by a physician?

2. Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?

3. In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not doing physical activity?

4. Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?

5. Do you have a bone or joint problem, such as the back, knee or hip, that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity?

6. Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs for your blood pressure or heart condition?

7. Do you know of any other reason why you shouldn’t do physical activity?

Other things to discuss with your doc 

The questions are part of a physical activity readiness survey developed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions, health experts advise seeing your doctor before embarking on any exercise.

Your doctor may still say you can perform any activity – provided that you start slowly and work up your pace and intensity gradually. Then again, following your doctor’s advice, you may need to cut back on the kinds of activities and stick with the ones that are safe for you, fitness experts say.

Your doctor, nurse or other health professional may put you in touch with a community program that can provide safe and helpful activities to get you in shape.

What’s more, experts advise that people with chronic diseases, such as a heart condition, arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure, talk to their doctor about what types and amounts of physical activity are appropriate.

If you answered “No” to all the questions, start becoming physically active, beginning slowly and building up your pace. You may want to take a fitness appraisal, which is an excellent way to determine your basic fitness so you can plan the best way to exercise.

Types of intensity

Fitness experts with the American Council on Exercise suggest that if you’re a man over 40 or a woman over 50, get a medical exam first before starting any physical activity. Ditto for people of any age who have two or more risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Talk with the doctor also about what kind of exercise intensity is best for you, given your physical characteristics. Fitness experts with the council say that may sound like a silly question, but determining from the doctor whether you should stick with moderately intense activity and shy away from anything vigorous is critical if you’re older or have certain cardiovascular risk factors.

According to the council, here's how exercise intensities are typically defined:

•  Low-to-Moderate – activities that you can sustain relatively comfortably for about 60 minutes. This type of exercise typically begins slowly, progresses gradually and usually isn't competitive in nature.

•  Vigorous – activities that significantly raise both your heart and breathing rates, and are usually performed for about 20 minutes before you feel fatigued.

You also may want to ask your doctor how exercising will affect your cholesterol, blood pressure, and general overall health. The American Heart Association also says to ask a doctor about physical activity if you’re recovering from a stroke, heart attack or surgery.

Check these out . . .

•  Walking: An Exercise for Everyone, by Nubella dietitian Theresa Stahl

•  What Does ‘Moderate Intensity’ Really Mean?

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•  A Super Fitness Idea: Hiking

•  12 Super Summer Exercise Tips

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Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.

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