Exercising Safely

Dressing right

• Wear loose-fitting clothes. Dress in layers on cool days. That way you can remove a layer if you get too warm.

• Always wear shoes that fit well and that are designed for exercise. If you need orthotic inserts to prevent your feet from hurting, get them before you exercise.

• When it’s cool outside, wear a hat to retain your body heat.

• To protect your eyes and skin from the sun, wear a visor or hat and use sunscreen.

Exercising safely

• Exercise indoors when it’s too hot or too cold outside, or when the air quality is poor. Try walking at a shopping mall or walking at a reasonable pace on a treadmill.

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise (unless you are on a water-restricted diet).

• Check your pace. You should be able to talk without being out of breath. A good test of the right speed is to see if you can sing. If you can, you may need to increase your pace.

• If you use medicine for angina, always carry it with you.

• Don’t exercise on days when you are ill or if you forget to take your medicines.

• Be sure to warm up before you exercise and to cool down after. This can help improve flexibility and range of motion in your joints.

• Be sure to talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

When to call your doctor

Contact your health care provider if you:

• Have unusual increased or new pain in a joint or muscle.

• Have temporary palpitations or an irregular heartbeat.

Call 911

Stop exercising and call 911 if you:

• Have chest pain, or if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or severely weak.

• Feel burning, tightness, pressure, or heaviness in your chest, neck, shoulders, back, or arms.

• Have unusual shortness of breath.

• Have persistent palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, especially if you also have the symptoms listed above.