After your senior’s doctor clears her to start exercising, there might be some symptoms that one or both of you notice. Some of these symptoms are fairly common, but they still need a second look.
Chest Pain or Pressure
Any unusual symptoms in the chest, such as pain or pressure, are something to be concerned about. This is especially true if these symptoms are occurring while your elderly family member is exercising. Contact her doctor right away.
Feeling Short of Breath or Dizzy
It’s natural to breathe a little heavier when exercising. But if your senior is growing short of breath or worse, getting dizzy, while she exercises, that can be a sign of something bigger. Her doctor needs to be aware.
Unexpected Weight Loss
Weight loss is often a reason that people take up exercise, but if your senior is losing more weight than expected or she really didn’t need to be losing weight, there may be something else going on. Her doctor can run tests and determine what could be happening and whether it’s something to do something about.
Joint Swelling
Swelling in the joints could be a side effect of existing health issues, such as arthritis, or they can be a sign that your elderly family member has injured herself. If it’s an injury, your elderly family member may be able to pick back up again when it heals. Bigger issues, like worsening arthritis, may require a change of activity or something else to help her to feel better.
Extreme Muscle Aches
A little bit of muscle soreness is to be expected after a workout. But if your aging family member’s muscles are so sore that she can’t move them, there may be something else at play. Make sure that you talk to her doctor about what exercises she’s doing and what might be causing the pain.
Any New Symptom
Any symptoms that are new at all should be a topic of conversation with your senior’s doctor. Sometimes symptoms that seem like no big deal can actually be something important. To make sure that you don’t overlook anything important, you need to always mention anything new.
This is another reason that your aging adult should really work out with other people present, such as an exercise buddy or an elderly care provider. They can help your senior to stay aware of how she’s feeling and whether she is experiencing something that she should talk about with her doctor right away.
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