Women's Health Screening

Page 2

Medical Problems and Their Risks with Exercise

Problem	Limitations/Risks
Bleeding problems	be careful with injuries and falls
Carditis (inflammation of the heart)	severe restrictions of exercise intensity
High blood pressure	avoid heavy weight lifting
Congenital heart disease	possibly limited per doctor
Irregular heartbeat	possibly limited per doctor
Mitral valve prolapse	usually no limits
Hear murmur	possibly limited per doctor
Diabetes	watch blood sugars if more than 30 minutes exercise
Diarrhea	watch fluid status and increase salt/potassium
Eating disorders	limited if severe and nutrition poor
Fever	do not exercise
HIV infection	no restrictions if currently healthy
Kidney disease	possibly limit contact sports
Liver disease	possibly limit contact sports
Cancer	possible limits after surgery or chemotherapy
Concussion	no contact sports if more than three in lifetime
Seizures	possibly limited, make sure medications taken
Obesity	avoid overheating and dehydration
Asthma	might need to modify environment, take medications
Bronchitis	possibly limit exertion
Sickle cell disease	avoid overheating/overcooling, dehydration
Skin diseases	if contagious, contact not allowed
Enlarged spleen (mononucleosis)	no contact sports

Lifestyle
There are also lifestyle risk factors that can lead to medical problems. These can be screened with the following questions. If you can answer any of these questions with a "yes," reconsider your behavior, as this might lead to serious problems. Behaviors can be hard to correct; if you need help, speak to your health-care provider, therapist, school counselor, social worker, or a family member or close friend you feel you can talk to and confide in.

Do you smoke?	YES	NO
Do you drink more than seven alcoholic drinks a week?	YES	NO
Have you ever used any street drugs?	YES	NO
Do you often forget to wear a seatbelt?	YES	NO
Do you forget to wear a helmet while biking or motorcycling?	YES	NO
Do you have trouble sleeping on more than two nights a week?	YES	NO
Do you feel stressed out with no relief in sight?	YES	NO
Do you throw up after eating?	YES	NO
Do you use laxatives on a regular basis because you "feel full"?	YES	NO
Do you take pills or teas to help you lose water weight?	YES	NO
Have you ever taken anything to help you lose weight?	YES	NO
Have you ever taken anything to help you gain muscle or strength?	YES	NO
Have you ever taken any drugs to keep you awake or alert?	YES	NO

Nutritional Health
Nutrition is an essential part of inner body health and athletic performance and, thus, is an important area of assessment and monitoring in athletic women. Health and performance problems can be due to poor nutrition, and poor nutrition can be due to poor health and performance. Athletic performance is one of the best indicators of nutrition. With the right nutrition, you perform at your best with low incidence of injury or illness. If you are feeling tired and run down, weak, irritable, or cramping, nutrition can be a factor. Weight is, of course, a good guide, as any quick change of weight can signal nutrition problems. It is always recommended to take a multivitamin daily to ensure nutrient balance. This along with a well-rounded diet of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats is essential. To quickly assess your nutritional habits, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you skip meals?

YES

NO

Do you always feel hungry?

YES

NO

Do you restrict yourself of certain foods?

YES

NO

Do you feel that you cannot quench your thirst?

YES

NO

Do you crave salty, sugary, or fatty foods often?

YES

NO

Do you take more than three vitamins or supplements a day?

YES

NO

Do you worry about your nutrition or weight on a daily basis?

YES

NO

If you have more than two "yes" answers, refer to this article for more information, and make an appointment to see a doctor or nutritionist.