For people in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s summer and you might be inspired to get outdoors to move more. But the weather is getting too warm in some places for people to exercise safely outside. Top health headlines, all in one place We know that adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly.
This can include exercises such as brisk walking, biking, playing basketball, swimming and more vigorous household tasks like mowing the lawn and vacuuming, also called functional fitness. But is that all safe to do at high temperatures? How hot is too hot for exercising outdoors? Is it safe to exercise outside at some times of the day? Should younger or older people take more precautions in the heat? What about people who have heart and kidney conditions or take certain medications? To help us stay fit and safe in the summer heat , I spoke with CNN wellness analyst Dr. Leana Wen.
Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at the George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner. CNN: What precautions should people take before exercising during the summer? Wen: Summer can be a fantastic time to get outside and become more active, but as temperatures rise to unsafe levels, people should be aware of the risk of heat-related illnesses .
I’d advise that people look at the weather forecast before exercising. If a heat wave is expected, avoid exercising in the hottest part of the day an.