Exercise Intolerance: What It Is, and How To Deal

We’re all the time told that exercise is a very good thing, but as with most things said in absolute terms, there are instances through which exercising could actually be harmful. One such scenario is when someone suffers from exercise intolerance. It’s something many individuals have never heard of, but it may possibly affect people affected by quite a lot of conditions.

What’s exercise intolerance?

Hallie Zwibel, DO, director of the Center for Sports Medicine on the Recent York Institute of Technology, explains that exercise intolerance is the lack to interact in physical activity that might be typical for a person’s age.

“Individuals with exercise intolerance cannot construct the crucial stamina with exercise,” explains Dr. Zwibel. “Actually, exercising may cause more discomfort.”

Make no mistake: Exercise intolerance is different from just being out of practice or unmotivated to work out. That is an actual condition that may affect your physiology. When someone has exercise intolerance, their body doesn’t reply to understanding by growing stronger—as an alternative, physical activity could make someone feel worse. Dr. Zwibel says this happens because there’s less oxygen-rich blood being circulated throughout the body.

“An individual may be motivated to work out, but their body cannot meet the moment,” he says.

What are the symptoms?

The rationale that some people confuse this condition with a scarcity of fitness is since the symptoms can mimic those of somebody who’s “out of practice.” Namely, people will feel winded and fatigued once they’re starting exercise. Many also experience muscle cramping and aches. These responses make it difficult for them to sustain exercise in a snug or manageable way.

What are probably the most common causes?

There are numerous underlying causes of this condition. Dr. Zwibel says that two common ones are heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It could even be a symptom related to chronic fatigue syndrome or POTS. Yet a number of the causes may not even be identified or fully understood at this point

“There was research linking long COVID-19 to exercise intolerance as well—even after symptoms resolve from acute COVID-19,” shares Dr. Zwibel. “The mechanism for this stays unclear but could also be related to lung or cardiac issues.”

Along with the lingering consequences of COVID, Dr. Zwibel says that a bunch of other respiratory conditions, like asthma and COPD may cause it.

“Oxygen-rich blood is required throughout the body to keep up all bodily functions. Respiratory conditions can negatively impact the blood being oxygenated,” he says. Meanwhile, certain cardiac conditions can mean that the oxygenated blood doesn’t reach the tissues where it is required.

The excellent news: Fortunately, not everyone with these kinds of conditions will necessarily suffer from exercise intolerance. Whether you’re affected often depends upon the sort and severity of your health problem, your fitness level prior to becoming sick, and the way well your condition is being managed.

Can you continue to work out with exercise intolerance?

It might sound like individuals who have exercise intolerance should avoid understanding in any respect costs, but Dr. Zwibel says that is an unnecessary precaution—and in addition counterproductive usually.

“You can and should exercise, with one big caveat: Exercise programs have to be tailored to the rationale an individual has exercise intolerance,” he says. “There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. That is why it’s critical to hunt advice from a professional healthcare skilled.”

A provider should closely monitor how your body responds to activity, and offer targeted levels of physical exercise so that you can follow, says Dr. Zwibel. “This has been shown to enhance exercise intolerance—and help to enhance quality of life.”