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Exercise When Sick?
Hi Readers
Tell fitness enthusiasts to sit still, and they’ll feel like cheering for a losing sporting club just so they can get a sweat up after watching them get defeated again.
Tell sick fitness enthusiasts to sit still, and their response will likely be the same. But should you really exercise when your body doesn’t feel 100 percent?
Here is my suggestions for deciding when to workout when not feeling well and remember only you will know this – no one else.
If your symptoms mirror that of a common cold (without a fever) the illness you are experiencing remains above the neck – you can exercise moderately by doing activities like walking. Your typical dog walk might cheer you up too.
Supervising the hot chocolate at the fire while the kids skate is a great idea.
The American Council on Exercise supports low-impact physical activity of 30 minutes or less when exercising with a cold.
Exercising while sick may even be beneficial, since working up a sweat causes immune cells to circulate through the body more quickly and better kill bacteria and viruses.
In a classic study published in the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers recruited 45 individuals age 18- to 29 of various fitness levels who agreed to be infected with rhinovirus, the culprit of most common colds.
In two days, when symptoms reached their peak, the participants ran on treadmills at moderate and intense levels.
The researchers reported that having a cold had no effect on participants’ lung function or ability to exercise. Researchers also tested the runners at different points in the exercise sessions and found that their colds had no effect on the way their body responded to activity.
If you have doubts or think you may have a more serious illness, talk to your doctor.
Mark O’Neill and Shelley Donald are Registered Personal Trainers