Do I need to see my doctor before I start an exercise program?
So that you can start your exercise program safely and effectively, answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge, and follow the directions at the end of this section.
When you are unsure of any answer, it is advised that you see a physician to accurately determine the safety of beginning an workout program.
If have been told by a doctor that you’ve any cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or metabolic disease such as diabetes, obtain permission from your doctor before beginning or changing your fitness program.
1. Are you a male over 45 years old?
2. Are you a female over the age of 55? Or, are you less than 55 years old and past menopause, but not taking estrogen?
3. Has any male family member died of a heart attack before age 55? Or, has any female family member died of a heart attack before age 65?
4. Do you use cigarettes or tobacco products?
5. Has a physician ever told you’ve high blood pressure? Or, has your blood pressure been measured more than once at greater than 140 over 90? Or, do you take high blood pressure medicine?
6. Has your physician ever told you that you have high cholesterol? Or, do you know when your sum cholesterol is greater than 200? Or, is your HDL cholesterol less than 35?
7. Do you consider yourself physically inactive at work and during your leisure time?
When you responded “yes” to more than one of these questions it is recommended that you see a physician before pursuing a vigorous exercise program. Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 5th Edition, 1995.
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