3 Tips To Protect Your Health Before You Start A New Exercise Routine
If you haven't been active for a long time, you should consider adding some cardio. Cardio is great at boosting your heart health and keeping off extra pounds. However, if you are inactive, suddenly starting a new activity can be too much for your body. If you would like to know more, keep reading.
1. Visit Your Doctor
If you have been inactive for many years, starting a new exercise routine could be dangerous, especially if you're heart can't handle it. Ask your doctor about a heart stress test or an echocardiography. This tests how well your heart works when it's under stress. With this information, the doctor can help guide you on the right exercises and intensity for your health.
You may also want an echocardiography if you have shortness of breath and dizziness with exertion. Even if you think you're active enough to start a new exercise routine, you may want to see your doctor if you have a medical condition like diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. If you try to exercise, and you feel pain, abnormally fast heartbeat, or lower leg pain, contact your doctor.
2. Ask About the Right Exercises for You
You should ask your doctor about the best exercises for your needs. For example, many older patients may have arthritis, making high-impact exercises like running a poor choice. They may do well with swimming. Swimming may also be a good idea if you're too heavy, weak, or sore to deal with the weight of your own body during exercise.
Don't forget to talk about the intensity and length of exercise. Most likely, your doctor will start you off with low intensity for short periods of time. If you have health concerns, work with your doctor to create a healthy way to boost the intensity and length without straining your body.
3. Don't Forget to Stretch
Exercise is great, but you also need to stretch. Failing to stretch can cause a lot of problems, including posture issues and pain. Stretching also helps soothes your muscles before, during, or after exercise. Stretching can also increase your range of motion, which may take pressure off other parts of the body, reducing pain and increasing mobility.
Since stretching also helps with posture, it can better position you during exercise. If your body is all hunched over while you exercise, you won't get the same benefits. In some cases, you may even be putting more strain on parts of the body.
If you are worried about your heart before starting an exercise routine, consider stress testing for your heart. By boosting your heart health, you can reduce the risk of many cardiovascular issues. For more information, contact a medical service such as Alpert Zales & Castro Pediatric Cardiology today.