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You should discuss your fitness level with a health care professional before you try to improve it on your own, especially if you haven't been active in awhile, have any chronic health conditions or are over 50.

During a fitness assessment, your health care professional should ask you about chest pain, faintness or dizziness, bone or joint pain, and about any medications you're taking. The health care professional should check the health of your heart and joints, measure your blood pressure and weight, and determine if you have a hernia or diabetes. These issues may affect how vigorously you may exercise or the types of exercise you can safely do. If you have heart disease or any risk factors for heart disease, you may need to undergo an electrocardiogram while exercising, commonly called a stress test. During this test, you walk on a treadmill while the health care professional monitors your heart and blood pressure.

Sometimes, your health care professional is the one suggesting a fitness program. This is a good option if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, are overweight, have a high percentage of body fat, or are losing bone density (a precursor to osteoporosis).

Your health care professional also may recommend a fitness regime if you have or are at risk of developing one of a variety of chronic conditions, such as diabetes.

For example, strong muscles can help those with osteoarthritis protect their joints and bones by improving stability and absorbing shock. Regular exercise also helps women with chronic lung disease improve their endurance and reduce shortness of breath. It is also an important part of controlling blood sugar, strengthening the bones of women with osteoporosis and protecting younger women's bones from becoming thin and fragile. It may even increase life expectancy for women with heart disease.

Your health care professional can give you advice about a program suited to your health needs and fitness goals. He or she also may refer you to a fitness professional or a hospital-based fitness class to provide guidance as you begin.