5 Warning Signs Your Heart is Not Ready for Intense Exercise

While staying active is necessary for keeping the heart active and healthy, it may require supervision for individuals with existing cardiac issues. In India, almost 20-25% of all deaths are due to cardiac issues, a statistic that indicates the rising awareness of early symptoms of heart problems. 

Consulting the best cardiologist in Kurukshetra and recognizing these symptoms early can prevent serious heart complications before continuing the intense exercise. In this article, we will identify the 5 signs of heart risk during exercise and the importance of medical guidance and a cardiac checkup before going to the gym.

Five Early Symptoms of Heart Problems During a Workout

1. Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)

Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) is a major symptom that your heart is experiencing stress. This can show up in various forms, including a racing pulse, an abnormally slow pulse, or an inconsistent pulse. When the heartbeat is irregular, it may hinder the heart’s ability to pump efficiently, resulting in dizziness or fainting. If you feel something is wrong with your pulse, it’s a sign you should seek medical intervention before continuing. 

2. Unusual fatigue and Dizziness 

Feeling drained and exhausted after a long day is normal, but it’s not normal to feel fatigued, dizzy, or faint right after the physical activity, or more so, even after taking a rest. These situations arise when the heart is not able to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain and body tissues during exercise, resulting in ongoing fatigue. It’s best to consult with a doctor if you feel persistent fatigue and your energy levels are low; it shows your heart is not ready for exercise. 

3. Chest pain or discomfort

Chest pain is one of the most evident symptoms of a cardiac issue. It may feel like a sharp, squeezing pain or like pressure on the chest, sometimes also beginning with mild, nagging discomfort, escalating to a heavy sensation in the chest. This discomfort may come and go, making it easy to ignore, but that’s the risk you should not take. Immediately contact a healthcare professional if the discomfort and pain persist for longer than a few minutes during exercise. 

4. Shortness of breath

After running or just climbing up the stairs, the breathing usually becomes heavy, and that is normal. However, when you are resting or during a mild activity, if you are struggling to catch a breath, it could mean your heart is not functioning properly. Now, this could be due to fluid buildup in the lungs, which is hindering the exchange of deoxygenated blood with oxygenated blood. This leads to shortness of breath, especially when you are lying flat. It’s a red flag, and early evaluation can help prevent any underlying condition.

5. Edema or ankle swelling. 

If you feel your ankles, feet, or a part of your lower body is swelling, it’s time to stop and investigate the reason. The swelling could be edema, which means the heart is not pumping enough to force back the used blood, causing fluid retention in the body parts. It is also one of the reasons for sudden weight gain and needs to be evaluated to check for the possibility of heart or kidney diseases. 

Importance of a Cardiac Checkup Before Gym

Exercising is very helpful and rightly so, because it activates body functions and heart health. However, it’s not the same for everyone, especially for someone with a history of heart conditions. Organising the cardiac checkup with the best cardiologist in Kurukshetra before the gym can help fix the situation.

The cardiologist will conduct a checkup, including cardiac assessment, ECG, echocardiogram, and stress tests, which will provide insights into your heart health response to physical activities. This will help identify any hidden cardiovascular issues that may intensify during exercise. In addition, the doctor may help you tailor a safe fitness plan with a gradual progression of activity levels to strengthen your heart. 

When to See a Cardiologist?

Now that you are aware of how a cardiologist could help in supporting your heart health, it’s best to consult when any of the following situations arise: 

• If you have a history of heart issues.
• If you have diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol problems, all of these are linked closely to heart disease.
• If you have a heart disease and are returning to the gym or physical activities after a long gap.
• If you are experiencing anything unusual in your health, including restlessness, shortness of breath, chest pain (mild or sharp), and dizziness.
• If you indulge in a habit of smoking, drinking (alcohol), poor diet, or experiencing stress.

The Bottom Line

The best way moving forward is to consult a cardiologist in advance before hitting up the gym or beginning the exercise routine. It’s also suggested to follow a healthy lifestyle that keeps your heart safe during workouts, such as: 

• Slow Intensity Workouts: Beginning with slow-intensity workouts ensures your body is gradually adapting to the increased heart rate while maintaining the blood flow.

• Staying Hydrated: It is suggested to keep yourself hydrated during exercise to avoid dehydration-related heart burdens and to maintain blood pressure.

• Eating a Healthy Diet: It is suggested to consume a heart-healthy diet, which is a low-fat and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, to avoid cholesterol and blood pressure-related heart issues.

• Monitoring Heart Rate: Keeping a check on heart rate during workouts ensures you are not straining your heart and working at optimal intensity for cardiac health.

If you are concerned about your health or someone close to you, it’s time to schedule a consultation with the best cardiologist in Kurukshetra at Shri Balaji Aarogyam Hospital today.