Are You Too Sick to Workout?

04/28/08 Nutrition & Exercise

Spring allergies and colds can make you feel miserable, but are you too sick to exercise? Heart attack-survivor Eliz Greene offers some simple guidelines about when you should skip a day of exercise in favor of rest.

Staying motivated to exercise is definitely more difficult when you are under the weather, but how do you know when to power-through and when to take a break? Here are some tips:

Got the sniffles? Tough it out.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it is safe to workout if your symptoms are “above the neck.” Happily, exercise may make your runny nose, stuffed-up sinuses, or sore throat feel better.

Are you coughing? Give it a rest.
Postpone your workout if you have chest congestion or tightness. That hacking cough will likely get worse with exertion. Wait until your symptoms improve to resume your workout routine.

Is your stomach upset? Take a break.
Vomiting and diarrhea can easily lead to dangerous dehydration. Don’t stress your system further with exercise.

Got a fever? Stay in bed.
Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Edward Laskowski, M.D., indicates exercising with a fever can be dangerous and could cause inflammation of the heart muscle. If you have a fever, extreme fatigue, or widespread muscle aches, sleep and allow your body to heal before resuming your routine.

Use common sense.
Listen to your body when you are under the weather. Slow down or stop if your symptoms get worse. When you feel better, ease back into exercise, especially if you are weakened after a long bout with the flu or a fever.

For more Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Busy People visit Eliz’s blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

Eliz Greene survived a heart attack at age thirty-five while seven-months pregnant with twins. She is a heart health educator, freelance writer, and speaker on a mission to help busy people lead healthier lives.