Tips for Exercising with a Chronic Illness
Key Takeaways:
There are several health benefits to exercising with a chronic condition, like improving mental health, boosting cardiovascular and brain health, and enhancing sleep health.
Working out with a chronic illness can pose a few risks, like worsening symptoms, injuries, and dehydration.
Exercise is vital for your health, so enforce safety tips tailored to your health.
Some tips for exercising with a chronic illness include speaking with your doctor, listening to your body, staying hydrated, and more.
The main components of a healthy lifestyle are eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep. Certain medical conditions, like chronic illness, can require adjustments for good health and well-being. Exercising with a chronic illness can pose certain challenges, but they're not impossible to overcome.
As you structure your workout routine with a chronic illness, you must ensure you don’t cause flares or discomfort while exercising.
Let’s dive into the benefits of working out, the potential dangers of working out, plus exercise tips for invisible illness warriors.
Benefits of working out with a chronic illness
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are the health benefits of exercising with a chronic illness:
Provides support for doing daily activities as well as independent living.
Improves mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Reduces the risk of early death, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
Boosts cardiovascular and brain health.
Improves sleep.
Possible risks associated with exercising as a chronic illness warrior
As mentioned, several health benefits are associated with exercising, but for people with chronic illnesses, it’s essential to know the potential risks of working out while immunocompromised.
Here are some of the potential risks of exercising with a chronic illness.
Exacerbation of symptoms
Working out beyond your body’s limits can worsen your chronic illness symptoms. When you do intense workouts or work out for too long, it can cause pain and discomfort. Some chronic illness symptoms that can arise from exerting your body during exercise include fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms related to your condition.
Injury risks
If you don’t regularly exercise with a chronic illness, there’s a higher chance of getting injured. Exercise injuries include sprains, strains, and other injuries that can be difficult to recover from when you have a chronic illness. If you encounter an injury while working out, stop immediately, and get medical assistance if needed.
Dehydration
Some chronic illnesses can cause dehydration, and because exercising can make you thirsty, it can exacerbate this problem. When you’re dehydrated, it can lead to a range of symptoms, including fatigue, headache, and dizziness.
How to exercise safely with a chronic illness
After discussing the potential health benefits and risks of exercising, here are some workout tips for chronic illnesses.
Consult your doctor first
Before starting any exercise regimen, please speak with your doctor. They can advise on what exercises are suitable for your condition and any potential risks you should be aware of. Also, they may recommend you seek a physical therapist or a certified personal trainer to create a safe exercise regimen for your condition.
Start slow and gradually increase intensity
If you haven't exercised in a while, it's essential to start slowly and gradually increase your workouts' intensity. Pushing yourself too hard and quickly can cause injury or flare-ups. So, pace yourself by starting with low-impact exercises like walking or swimming and gradually increasing the intensity and duration of your workouts over time.
Listen to your body
Pay attention to any warning signs your body may give you while exercising. If you start to feel dizzy, lightheaded, or experience pain, stop exercising immediately. Don't push yourself beyond your limits, and don't be afraid to take breaks as needed. It's better to take it slow and steady than to push yourself too hard and risk injury or worsening your chronic illness symptoms.
Be mindful of your surroundings
When exercising with a chronic illness, be mindful of your surroundings. Make sure you exercise in a safe and secure environment. Avoid engaging in activities that could be dangerous or put you at risk of injury. Also, be aware of the weather and how it may impact your symptoms. For example, high temperatures can trigger chronic illness flares.
Stay hydrated
Many chronic illnesses can cause dehydration, and dehydration can exacerbate symptoms. Keep a water bottle and drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workouts. If you're exercising outside in hot weather, consider drinking sports drinks that contain electrolytes to replace lost fluids and minerals.
How Chronius Can Help
If living with chronic illness feels like a full time job, you aren’t alone.
That’s why at Chronius, we make it easy to navigate the healthcare system as a patient. Our online care management platform brings together all of your health records and offers a 1-click appointment prep tool that easily synthesizes your health story for your care team. You also can track all of your symptoms, identify trends, learn from vetted medical information, and follow a custom patient journey map. Plus, if you needs hands on support, our Care Advocates are available to help you with any issues you may hit up against. Personalized support as you navigate your care journey is what we are all about.
Interested in learning more and signing up for our waitlist? Claim your spot today.
