When you need your healthcare team's OK

Sometimes it's best to check with a healthcare professional before you start an exercise program, especially if:

• You have a long-term health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease.
• You have high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
• You've had a heart attack.
• You have a family history of heart disease before age 55 in men and age 65 in women.
• You feel pain or discomfort in your chest, jaw, neck or arms during activity.
• You become dizzy with activity.
• You smoke or recently quit smoking.
• You're overweight or have obesity.
• You're unsure if you're in good health.
• You haven't been exercising regularly.
• You are pregnant.

Some medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure, affect the heart rate. Medicines also may affect how the body reacts to exercise. If you are being treated for high blood pressure and recently started exercising more, ask your healthcare professional if you need to adjust your medicines. Getting more exercise may reduce the need for blood pressure medicine.