Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper)Â Exercising undoubtedly brings many benefits to our health. It improves our endurance, and fitness, reduces risk factors, and generally improves our quality of life.
Nevertheless, there are some diseases for which, of course, we can exercise, but we must adapt to the needs and requirements of the training so that it is done in a safe way.
So what are these ailments that we should pay special attention to during training?
Type 1 and 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels.
There is Type 1 diabetes, where there is insufficient secretion of insulin (ie the body does not produce the necessary amount). Type 1 diabetes develops mainly at young ages and is characterized as insulin-dependent, as it is necessary to take insulin exogenously.
In this type of diabetes, it has not been proven that exercise can help regulate metabolism, but it is still considered necessary as it reduces complications from diabetes.
During exercise, we must be careful to avoid hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis (accumulation of many ketone bodies leading to metabolic oxidation), which can lead to diabetic coma.
The risk of hypoglycemia leading to insulin shock is even greater.
What should we pay attention to when exercising?
- 1) Insulin levels must be regulated, close to normal values before exercise begins.
- 2) We check insulin levels before, during, and after exercise.
- 3) We have a readily available source of carbohydrates (in case of hypoglycemia it is necessary)
- 4) The program should be low-intensity, progressive, and consist of both aerobic and resistance training.
- 5) To know very well the response of glucose in the blood, depending on the type of physical activity
- 6) Always have a person who knows what to do and can help in an emergency.
In Type 2 diabetes, a reduced action of insulin is observed, that is, the body produces the necessary insulin but shows resistance.
Type 2 diabetes occurs at older ages and is directly linked to a lack of physical activity, obesity, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension.
In this type, exercise is essential, as it has been shown that exercise of low intensity and prolonged duration increases the benefits associated with insulin sensitivity.
In addition, exercise helps to reduce the other factors associated with type 2 diabetes.
What should we pay attention to during the exercise?
Just like in Type 1 diabetes.
Hypertension
Hypertension shows increased values ​​both in systolic (normal value 120mmHg) and in diastolic (80mmHg) pressure.
High blood pressure is therefore that which is consistently higher than 130/80 mmHg (stage 1), while higher than 140/90 mmHg is considered stage 2 hypertension.
Hypertension can also be accompanied by other diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc., while factors such as inactivity, obesity, smoking, salt consumption, and alcohol are associated with an increase in blood pressure.
Exercise helps to reduce blood pressure, while endurance exercise is associated with a 5-7 mmHg reduction.
People with hypertension are advised to exercise at moderate intensity (40-59% VO2 max), most days of the week and with a duration of 30′ per session.
What should we pay attention to during the exercise?
- 1) Blood pressure should be measured before the start of the exercise, during, and at the end of the training.
- 2) Endurance exercise should be of moderate intensity
- 3) Resistance training should be at 60-80% of 1-RM
Heart diseases
In this category, we will talk about people who have some form of coronary artery disease.
These people include people who have angina, who have had coronary artery bypass surgery with graft and angioplasty, a balloon, or who have had a myocardial infarction.
In these people, exercise is essential, as it results in the improvement of heart function while reducing the risk of a subsequent heart attack.
What should we pay attention to when exercising?
- 1) Programs should be progressive and based on initial fatigue tests
- 2) The program should include warm-up, endurance, and strength exercises, as well as exercise recovery activities
- 3) In the beginning, we start with interval, low-intensity exercise (1-minute exercise, 1-minute rest)
- 4) A variety of exercises must be used to distribute the total work output over a wide range of muscles
- 5) 12-15 repetitions are done comfortably, 8-10 exercises in each workout
- 6) The training frequency is 2-3 times a week
COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. It is characterized by a reduced ability to exhale, due to narrowed airways.
COPD is categorized according to the severity of the condition in Stage 1 (mild form) to Stage 4 (very severe – respiratory failure).
Stage 1 COPD is not noticed by the people who have it, as it does not affect the quality of life. Thus, these individuals can exercise at intensities equivalent to a healthy, older adult.
(Symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue occur in people with stage 3 COPD, which is called severe.)
In COPD, exercise does not reverse disease progression. However, it can reduce the steady increase in symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue, while people with COPD can achieve an increase in exercise endurance without shortness of breath as well as an increase in the sense of well-being.
All this has the effect of improving the psychology of people with COPD in the long term.
What should we pay attention to when exercising?
- 1) The intensity of exercise must be determined after fatigue tests (e.g. assessment of VO2 max during exercise)
- 2) The evaluation must be done by qualified people
- 3) The program should include aerobic training (of intensity determined by work tests) 3-5 times a week
- 4) The program must include resistance training, in order to combat muscle fatigue
- 5) At an advanced stage, it should be determined whether supplemental oxygen is necessary
In all the above diseases, it is necessary to always have a person with specialized knowledge in the training exercise who will be able to respond immediately to each situation.
Remember to always consult ONLY your doctor before deciding to do any form of exercise.
Exercise Safely – Stay Healthy.
The article was first published in Greek on the Fitness Motivation Hellas platform.
You can follow the author Ms. Zirou inÂ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zirou.training.konstantina
Instagram:https://instagram.com/zirou.training_konstantina?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
