Safety First - Exercise for Older Adults
If you are at high risk for any chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, or if you smoke or are obese, you should check first with your doctor before becoming more physically active.
In general, men over 40 and women over 50 should check with their doctor before doing vigorous activity. Most older adults, regardless of age or condition, will do just fine in increasing their physical activity to a moderate level.
Consult your doctor if you have:
- any new, undiagnosed symptom
- chest pain
- irregular, rapid, or fluttery heart beat
- severe shortness of breath
- ongoing, significant, and undiagnosed weight loss
- infections, like pneumonia, accompanied by fever which can cause rapid heart beat and dehydration
- an acute blood clot
- a hernia that is causing symptoms such as pain and discomfort
- foot or ankle sores that won't heal
- persistent pain or problems walking after a fall - you might have a fracture and not know it
- eye conditions such as bleeding in the retina or a detached retina. Also consult your doctor after a cataract removal or lens implant, or after laser treatment or other eye surgery
- a weakening in the wall of the heart's major outgoing blood vessel called an abdominal aortic aneurysm
- a narrowing of one of the heart's valves called critical aortic stenosis
- joint swelling
If you have had hip repair or replacement:
- check with your doctor before doing lower-body exercises
- don't cross your legs
- don't bend your hips farther than a 90-degree angle
- avoid locking the joints in your legs into a strained position
Source: National Institute on Aging
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