We all believe that exercise is good for health, but learn which exercises increase the risk of heart attack and what to keep in mind.
Heart Attack Risk: Exercise is essential for keeping the body fit, but suddenly engaging in excessive or intense exercise without preparation can increase the risk for some people. Those who haven't exercised in a long time should start slowly, according to their capacity. Properly performed workouts can help keep the body active, but avoiding overexertion is equally important.
Avoid sudden exertion
If someone hasn't exercised for a long time and suddenly starts running very fast, lifting heavy weights, or doing high-intensity workouts, it can put a lot of strain on the body. Heart rate and blood pressure can increase rapidly during such workouts. Lifting weights beyond your capacity or using incorrect technique can also put additional strain on the body. Therefore, start your workout with light exercises and warm-ups and gradually increase the intensity. If you're going to the gym for the first time or starting to exercise again after a long time, it's best to include light activities initially. By giving your body time, you can gradually increase your capacity.
Who should be more careful?
People with pre-existing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health conditions should consult a doctor before starting vigorous exercise. Older adults or those who have not exercised for a long time should also start slowly. Proper technique and choosing appropriate weights are essential when weight training. Holding your breath while lifting very heavy weights can also affect blood pressure. If you experience chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, sudden weakness, extreme fatigue, or an abnormal heartbeat during exercise, stop exercising immediately and seek medical help. Such symptoms should not be ignored, assuming they are normal fatigue.
Don't ignore warm-up and cool-down
A few minutes of warm-up before exercise helps prepare the body for the workout. Similarly, after finishing your exercise, it's better to engage in some light activity and stretching rather than stopping abruptly. Brisk walking, light cycling, or moderate aerobic activity, depending on your ability, may be better options to start with. As fitness improves, you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workouts. Remember, the risk of heart attack isn't determined solely by a single exercise, but also by a person's age, health, fitness, and other risk factors. Therefore, engage in regular and balanced workouts, and seek expert advice in case of any health problems or unusual symptoms.
