Exercise Safety Guidelines for Hypertensive Patients: Contraindications for Poor Condition and Excessive Running

Avoid exercise when you are not feeling well: Light exercise should be done at a relaxed pace (intensity), and of course, without straining yourself. If you have a cold, fever, diarrhea, are extremely tired, or are experiencing mood swings, lack of sleep, general poor health, or back and knee pain, not only should you avoid walking, but you should also rest more.

Of course, if you feel uncomfortable during exercise, do not force yourself to continue. Even while walking at your normal pace, if you feel extremely tired or your heart rate increases, stop immediately and check your pulse. If your pulse rate is significantly increased, you must stop exercising immediately. Additionally, stop exercising if you experience muscle or joint pain.

Furthermore, pay special attention if you experience sudden chest pain accompanied by nausea, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chills, sweating, paleness, or bluish lips. You must stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Light exercise is exercise that you can perform easily without feeling fatigued. Always remember, never force yourself to exercise when you are not feeling well.

Avoid excessive running: Running can help with weight loss and prevent high blood pressure. However, it's crucial to strictly control the appropriate "intensity" of running. Our internal environment isn't formed in a short time; it develops over a long period through continuous adaptation to the environment, lifestyle, work, and habits. To give an extreme example, if you're currently ill, the state of the illness represents the state to which you are most adapted. High blood pressure differs from a viral cold or a fracture caused by an accident; it develops gradually over 10 or 20 years through adaptation. Therefore, sudden changes can disrupt the body's adaptation, leading to imbalances and potentially harming health. Thus, for people past middle age, the primary concern is maintaining their current physical condition to prevent decline. Running should be done gradually, increasing speed in your own way. Don't focus solely on physical exertion; otherwise, serious problems will arise. For middle-aged and older adults, maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable level of physical activity is paramount.