Before you start
It's a good idea to talk to your GP before starting any new fitness programme if you:
- are a woman aged 55 or over, or a man aged 45 or over
- haven’t exercised for a long time
- are worried about your health or know any reason why you can’t exercise, such as an injury or a long-term condition
- ever have any chest pain with physical activity
- have had any chest pain at all in the last month
- have a diagnosed heart condition or take drugs for your heart
- have high blood pressure
- ever feel dizzy, lose your balance or ‘pass out’ losing consciousness
- have a bone or joint problem that you suspect could be made worse with an increase in activity
Your GP may advise you to do a lighter fitness programme that includes regular walking to begin with. After a while, you may be ready to start one of our running programmes for beginners.
Sources
- When to see a physician before exercising. American College of Sports Medicine. www.acsm.org, accessed 4 January 2012
Produced by Alice Rossiter, Bupa Health Information Team, March 2012.
