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This article is from the running Beginners' FAQ, by Ozzie Gontang with numerous contributions by others.

4 Should someone beginning an exercise program get medical clearance ?

The advice usually given is that formulated by the American College of
Sports Medicine (1976) - that anyone over the age of 35 should have a full
medical examination, including an electrocardiogram recorded before, during
and after maximal exercise. Persons under 35 who have risk factors for
heart disease (a family history of heart disease, a history of smoking,
high blood pressure or high blood fat levels) should also be tested.

More recent guidelines from the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood
Institute (1981) say that you should consult a doctor before beginning an
exercise program is you meet any of the following criteria:

1. You are over age 60 and not accustomed to vigorous exercise. 2. You have
a family history of premature coronary heart disease
(under 55 years of age).
3. You frequently have pains or pressure in the left or midchest
area, left neck, shoulder or arm (distinct from the "stitch") during or
immediately after exercise.
4. You often feel faint or have spells of severe dizziness, or you
experience extreme breathlessness after mild exertion. 5. Your doctor has
said that your blood pressure is too high, or you
do not know that it is normal.
6. Your doctor has said that you have heart trouble, that you have a
heart murmur, or that you have had a heart attack. 7. Your doctor has said
that you have bone or joint problems, such as
arthritis .
8. You have a medical condition that might need special attention in an
exercise program.

[the above taken from Noakes]

Use your common sense. Go to your doctor if you are in doubt.

 

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