Should you stop exercising?

Two of the top causes of death in the U.S. is heart disease and stroke, exercise is a great way to combat these health issues.

However, continuing to exercise after your body has told you to quit, could mean death.

Don’t ignore the signs. If you feel anything that says you should stop, you should take a break. Here’s some reasons as to what to look out for:

• Chest Discomfort. We’re all familiar with chest-pain being cause for alarm, however, if you feel discomfort or pressure, you should stop and seek medical treatment.
• Nausea & Sweating. Symptoms such as nausea or sweating beyond what is normal for your body, this is also a sign to stop exercising. Nausea and extreme sweating (outside what is normal) could be the early stages of a heart attack. Fluttering of the heart is also a bad sign, as this could mean atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.
• Shortness of breath, different than being winded, is another sign. If you’ve been exercising for a few weeks, and suddenly you can’t catch your breath while doing so, you should be concerned. It could be exercise induced asthma, or something much worse.
• Dizziness. Dizziness can because by things such as lack of food, or dehydration. Stop and get a high-protein snack and some water. After a bit, if that doesn’t help, there could be a more serious issue. If the dizziness is accompanied by fainting, profuse sweating, or confusion, you need to get emergency help. These signs could mean problems such as high blood pressure, an issue with your heart, or diabetes.
• Concussions. When playing sports, if you get hit in the head, be safe, stop playing. Getting back in the game as soon as the pain subsides can be a costly mistake, only a doctor can tell if you’re ready to begin exercising again as sometimes concussions can take weeks or even months before fully healed. Starting up again before healing can mean putting stress on injured blood vessels which can lead to bleeding in the brain, eventually resulting in a stroke.
• Joint pain or swelling. Muscle pain is normal, however pain in your joints is completely different, and can lead to damage that requires surgery to repair.

Exercise is no doubt good for you, but without knowledge and ignoring your body’s warning signs, you could put your body in some major pain. Be smart, and exercise safely!