Is it safe to work out when you are sick?
Asked by anonymous on Jan 23, 2011
in Fitness
I took a week off from my regular gym routine because I was just too busy at work. During the last 2 weeks, I've been feeling like my body could possibly be getting a cold or flu, but not quite yet. I started to get back into my gym routine over the weekend, hoping to feel better once I got back into regular activity, but instead I'm feeling like I'm getting even sicker. How safe is it to continue with working out even though you're not feeling very well? Should I take a break until I feel completely better, or should I just work out less than I normally do? I thought sweating it out would really help!
Answer
The rule is that it's okay to exercise if your symptoms are 'in your head', such as a runny nose or sore throat. But if your symptoms are below the neck, such as chest congestion, fever, aches and chills, or gastrointestinal problems, then you should stop exercising until you recover. For low energy and sluggishness, you'll have to use your judgment, but exercise might you feel better. Still, there's no need to do a killer workout. Easy does it until you're feeling better.
The side effects of allergy medications keep some people from using them. Natural remedies can be a great alternative, but some are more effective than others.
