By now we’re all familiar with the fine print message “consult your doctor” that’s connected to just about every supplement and exercise regimen out there. The problem is, it’s so common now that many of us just tend to ignore the advice. It’s seen as unimportant, maybe because it’s so common now that it produces a feeling of dismissal in people who read it. The truth is though that those who don’t consult their doctor before any serious exercise change could be making a serious gamble with their health. Here are a few reasons why.
Blood Pressure Medications
There are lots of instances when you should check with your doctor, but exercise changes is one of the primary reasons you should watch out for, especially if you’re on any kind of special medication. Medication can interact with the body in all sorts of different ways, and only the doctor who proscribed the medication will really be able to explain exactly how it works in your specific situation. For example, if you’re on medication for increasing or decreasing blood pressure, then this is something that can be heavily affected by exercise.
Asthma
Another one that’s worth checking is asthma. This will be in the fine print of just about any asthma spray medication, but it’s worth following up on even beyond just because the fine print says so. You have to exercise in the right way with asthma or you risk getting an attack. For example, there are some types of exercises that are fine for people with asthma. These include the following.
- Volleyball
- Gymnastics
- Baseball
- Wrestling
Basically, any activity that involves short periods of exertion that is intermittent. This means when you do a lot of running and moving around for short periods of time, and then have a bit of a break in between. These will usually be fine depending on the type of asthma you have and what your doctor says about it. But if you plan on switching things up, it’s critically important that you ask your doctor first. For example, one way you could go wrong is by trying to do exercise options that involve long periods of exertion. Examples include long distance running, basketball, ice hockey and so on.
Coping with Your Disability
The two most important things to keep in mind when learning to handle any medical difficulty you have is that first, you have to be in constant communication with your doctor before you do anything different from what you’ve discussed with them previously. This includes anything involving diet, exercise, and so on. Doctors will have the information needed to help guide you through living the type of life you want to live. Secondly, it helps to keep informed yourself about everything involving your disability. This is why it can help to look through something like the beginner’s guide to social security disability to stay informed of all aspects of the condition including medical, personal, and financial.