Thu, Sep 2, 2010
| Sign Out | Account Settings
|
An Apple a Day
Should I exercise if I'm sick?
Posted by:
juliaperla on
October 30, 2009 at
10:33AM EST
Everyone's getting sick.
Whether it's swine flu, a stomach bug, an upper-respiratory infection or whatever, there's all kinds of funk going around. If you're sick, you might think you need to take a break from your workout routine. But that might not be necessary. In fact, exercise can often make you feel better, and can shorten the duration of your illness. However, you may not have the energy to fit in a workout. And of course, there are times when exercise can do your body more harm than good. I've done a lot of reading on this subject, and there's a pretty simple rule of thumb about if/when to exercise while sick... If the illness is in your head (sinus pain, headache, etc.), then continue with your regular workouts, but at a lighter pace and intensity. In this case, the extra blood flow might actually clear up the gunk in your head. If the illness is in anything below your head (chest cold, stomach ache, etc.), then forgo your workout for a couple of days and get lots of rest instead. Exercising in these conditions might only aggravate the problem, which makes sense if you think about it. The only thing is, once you're better, make sure you pick up your exercise regimen again. So many times, I've quit working out when I was sick and then never returned to it. It's so easy to get out of the habit. For you die-hard fitness fans, taking a break from your workout might be very difficult for you. But just remember that being fit is more about being healthy rather than having perfectly sculpted biceps. If you continue to work out while sick (below the head), you'll only prolong the illness, your body will eventually break down, and recovery will take much longer than if you were to just stop and rest in the first place.
Send This | Categories:
(1) Comments
|
About This Blog
Rate this Blog:
 1 rating(s)
Older Posts
Latest Entries
Loading...
 |
Leave a Message
Leave a Comment
Request a Friend
