Should i workout sick

We can help you find a doctor. Call or browse our specialists. If you need help accessing our website, call Related Articles. As long as jogging is part of your regular routine, there's no reason you need to skip it just because of a mild head cold. But if you're sick, you can and should scale back the intensity of your run, Hulse says, since your body is already working in overdrive to help fight off infection. And the American College on Exercise recommends holding off completely if you're experiencing flu-like or below-the-neck symptoms, like nausea or vomiting.

This type of slow, mindful movement is a cross between martial arts and meditation. It's low-intensity enough for days that you don't feel like breaking a serious sweat, and it has been used for thousands of years to reduce stress and anxiety, improve blood flow, and increase energy. In Chinese medicine, this is known as regulating and healing the body's "chi," or energy force. There is some modern evidence that qi gong has immunity-boosting powers, as well: A University of Virginia study in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that varsity swimmers who did qi gong at least once a week came down with 70 percent fewer respiratory infections that their teammates who practiced it less often.

Training for a marathon? Skip this weekend's long run if you're sick—even if you're already getting over, or just feel yourself coming down with, a cold. While no studies have looked at the effects of endurance running while already sick, Hulse says, its overall strain on the immune system is well documented: A study published in the Journal of Applied Sciences , for example, reported that immune function may be compromised for up to 24 hours after prolonged, continuous exercise 1.

The body releases the stress hormone cortisol while it's fighting infections like the common cold , and research suggests that stress-relieving techniques—such as yoga and breathing exercises—may help boost immunity. Plus, says Dr. Besser, gentle stretching may help relieve aches and pains related to colds and sinus infections. Choose a slower style of practice, like Hatha or Iyengar yoga, if you're worried about overdoing it with vigorous sun salutations.

And don't forget to say "om": A Swedish study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that humming is a good way to open up clogged sinus passages. In addition to how you exercise when you're sick, it's also important to consider where you exercise: "If your workout involves going to the gym and being in close contact with other people, you need to ask yourself if you'd want someone else with your symptoms doing the same thing," says Dr.

Taking a Zumba or cardio dance class—or even just rocking out to your favorite tunes while you clean the house—can serve as a stress-reduction technique. This is an example of referred pain 7 , 8. Ear pain can be caused by a sinus infection, a sore throat, a tooth infection, or changes in pressure. Certain types of ear infections can throw you off balance and cause a fever and other symptoms that make working out unsafe. However, most earaches can just be uncomfortable and cause a feeling of fullness or pressure in the head.

Though exercise is likely safe when you have an earache, try to avoid exercises that put pressure on the sinus region. Stick to light walking. Something as simple as bending over can be very uncomfortable with a sinus infection. In fact, getting some exercise may help open up your nasal passages, helping you breathe better Ultimately, listening to your body to determine whether you feel well enough to exercise with a stuffy nose is the best bet.

Pay attention to your breathing and what you feel you can handle. A sore throat is usually caused by a viral infection like the common cold or flu Staying hydrated with cool water is a great way to soothe a sore throat during exercise so you can add activity into your day. While exercising is generally harmless when you have a mild cold or earache, working out when you are experiencing any of the following symptoms is not recommended.

When you have a fever, your body temperature rises above its normal range, which hovers around Fevers can cause unpleasant symptoms like weakness, dehydration, muscle aches, and a loss of appetite. Additionally, having a fever decreases muscle strength and endurance and impairs precision and coordination, increasing the risk of injury However, more frequent episodes of coughing can be a symptom of a respiratory infection like a cold, the flu, or even pneumonia.

Although a dry, sporadic cough may not impair your ability to perform certain exercises, a frequent, productive cough is reason to skip a workout. A: Again, listen to your body. Colds typically last for a week to 10 days, but you may need as many as two to three weeks to recover from the flu, depending on the severity. If you try to go back too soon, you may just end up prolonging recovery phase. For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!