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| Vigorous exercise usually triggers a temporary spike in blood pressure, though, which can be dangerous for obese people with cardiac problems. |
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Tommy McNeill in a photo from Joe Mancos/Facebook
By Rodger Mullen
Staff writer
July 22, 2018
IF YOU ARE OBESE, AVOID STRENUOUS WORK OUTDOORS
Tommy McNeill reportedly died while teaching a wilderness search and rescue course.
CARTHAGE — Moore County Emergency Medical Services Maj. Tommy McNeill died in a training exercise Saturday, according to media reports and the Moore County Public Safety Facebook page. He was very obese and should not have worked outside in a hot and humid weather. His overburden heart could not take it anymore and gave up.
“It is with deepest sadness that Moore County EMS announces the passing of EMS Major Tommy McNeill,” read a post on the Moore County Public Safety Facebook page. “Please keep his family and work family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Media reports said McNeill was teaching a wilderness search and rescue course when he experienced a health crisis.
On its Facebook page, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office called McNeill “a professional, a selfless servant, a teammate and a brother.”
Moore County Public Safety said funeral arrangements are pending.
Obese people sometimes want to exercise in order to lose weight and improve their health, and there are certainly many benefits of exercise for overweight people. Exercise poses some risks for obese people, though, and you should be aware of the possible dangers and take steps to protect yourself from them while exercising. Make sure to talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have any medical problems, to find out what type and amount of exercise is safe for you.
Cardiac Problems
Obese people often have cardiac issues, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, as explained by the website of the NYU Langone Medical Center. Doctors often recommend that people with heart problems exercise, because exercise promotes weight loss, helps lower blood pressure, improves blood flow and helps strengthen the heart muscle. Vigorous exercise usually triggers a temporary spike in blood pressure, though, which can be dangerous for obese people with cardiac problems.Respiratory Problems
Obese people
often feel short of breath after even small amounts of physical
exertion. The NYU Langone Medical Center website explains that this is
because the chest wall is heavier than normal in obese people, making it
difficult for the lungs to fully expand. Stop exercising if you begin
to have difficulty breathing and talk to your doctor before resuming
your exercise program.
Injury to the Joints
According to the
American College of Sports Medicine, jogging puts significant stress on
the joints, including the knees. Thus, health care providers often
recommend obese people to avoid such high-impact exercises. Carrying
extra weight already puts a significant amount of stress on the joints
even without engaging in high-impact activities. Low-impact exercises
like water aerobics or swimming, however, are easier on the joints and
may be safer as well as more comfortable for obese people.
Heat Exhaustion
As the website of
the American College of Sports Medicine explains, obese people have
more difficulty regulating their body temperature than non-obese people,
which makes them more susceptible to heat exhaustion. To prevent heat
exhaustion, don’t exercise outdoors when the weather is very hot, wear
light clothing when working out and make sure you drink plenty of water
even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Dehydration
Since obese
people have more trouble regulating their body temperature, and since
they may sweat more than non-obese people, they are more susceptible to
dehydration when exercising vigorously, especially in hot weather. To
prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water before, during and after your
workout.
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CARTHAGE, N.C. (WNCN) - A Moore County Emergency Services worker died during training in Cumberland County on Saturday, sources said.
Moore County Emergency Medical Services Maj. Tommy McNeill was working with the Vander Fire Department when he had a health crisis, said Joe Mancos, who co-owned an EMS training business with McNeill.
"Tommy was my best friend and we traveled and taught rescue classes together," Mancos said. "He was the best."
McNeill was teaching the crews in Cumberland County on wilderness search and rescue, said Mancos.
The pair owned Mancos and McNeill Inc., which provides fire rescue and EMS training to responders.
"It is with (the) deepest sadness that Moore County EMS announces the passing of EMS Major Tommy McNeill," a post on the Moore County Public Safety Facebook page said. "Please keep his family and work family in your thoughts and prayers."
McNeill was called "a professional, a selfless servant, a teammate and a brother," on the Moore County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. He was also called obese and in need of some serious diet.
McNeill previously worked at Alamance County EMS and was a former paramedic with Randolph County EMS, according to his Facebook profile.
Mancos said officials believe McNeill suffered a heart problem, but an autopsy will take place Monday.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, according to Moore County Public Safety.