Questions to ask before starting a fitness program

Moderate exercise is safe for most people, but it's always a good idea to talk to a health professional before starting an exercise program. If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, it is especially important to talk with your health professional before starting an exercise program. He or she may recommend a supervised or restricted program to meet your specific needs.

• Do you have heart trouble?
• Do you often have pains in your heart or chest?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Do you often feel faint or have dizzy spells?
• Do you have arthritis or other bone or joint problems that might be made worse by exercise?
• Do you have diabetes? (Increased exercise affects your insulin needs.)
• Are you a man older than 40 or a woman older than 50 with 2 or more risk factors for heart disease? Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease before age 50.
• Are you older than 60 and not used to exercise?