I'm sure you've heard it all over the place: consult your doctor before starting any exercise program. This is a standard disclaimer for any fitness advice that most of us probably ignore. But must You? Not necessarily, it turns out.
Why should you consult a doctor before exercising?
The concern behind this oft-repeated statement is that, in rare cases, a person may die suddenly while exercising. When this occurs, it usually occurs in a person who (a) had some underlying medical condition; (b) not used to doing physical exercises; and (c) performed very intense exercise for which they were unprepared.
For a long time, there was a belief among many in the medical and fitness fields that the best way to deal with this problem was to focus on the first part: people who had an underlying medical problem. And since not everyone knows if they have it, you should also see a doctor if you power there is an underlying medical problem. Or if you have a family history of health problems.
While this sounds like a good idea, the show got out of hand. One of the most common screening tools was a questionnaire that asked about your health, including how old you were, whether you smoked, and whether you were overweight. One 2014 study found that this will affect more than 90% of middle-aged and older people.. In other words, these are people who will not be allowed to exercise until they receive medical clearance.
Considering the cost and accessibility of healthcare in this country (not to mention the hassle of making appointments, taking time off from work when needed, etc.), this is a huge barrier for many people. Quite ironic considering this is an exercise good for your health.
The American College of Sports Medicine took a deeper look at the numbers and found that the risks they tested were very common; the outcomes they were trying to prevent were very rare (one sudden cardiac death in 1.5 million vigorous exercise sessions, according to one study), and screening people based on risk factors did not appear to actually reduce the number of people dying while exercising.
How to Know If You're One of the People Who Really Should Consult a Doctor Before Working Out
Current recommendations for testing people before exercise have changed. The American College of Sports Medicine now states that “most people can exercise without first seeing a doctor.” Current recommendations that most gyms and trainers must use – use only three factors to screen people:
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How much do you train currently?
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Do you have signs or symptoms of certain diseases?
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How intensely would you like to exercise?
Health conditions that trigger this second point include cardiovascular, metabolic, and kidney diseases. If you have diabetes, it is a metabolic disease. If you have been told that you have heart disease, peripheral artery disease, or cerebrovascular disease, it is considered cardiovascular disease.
What are your thoughts so far?
Even if you have one of these conditions, you can usually exercise if you have been cleared by your doctor in the last 12 months (and your condition has not worsened since then) or if you already exercise regularly and just want to continue at the same level. Here is a flowchart to help you answer the question of whether you need a medical examination..
Even without prior diagnosis, the signs and symptoms of the previously mentioned diseases mean that you should stop exercising and consult your doctor before continuing. These include shortness of breath at rest or with mild activity; chest, arm, or jaw pain; dizziness or fainting; and others. If you're wondering if you qualify, start by taking PAR-Q testthat is, seven questions with a “yes” or “no” answer; If you answer yes to any of these, there is a slightly longer questionnaire called the PAR-Q+ that gets more detailed.
Compared with old recommendations, the proportion of people over 40 years of age who need to undergo a medical assessment before exercising has increased. almost halved. And within the framework of the same recommendations, the visit to the doctor itself will probably become much easier. Specific tests are no longer recommended; what happens during this visit depends on your doctor and his or her clinical judgment.
So yes, some people still need to consult a doctor before starting an exercise program. But this is not the case for everyone. Most people can start right away, and even people with medical conditions will likely be told to eat some what exercises they can do.
