If symptoms don’t become worse, continue working out if you feel up to it. Try exercising for 10 to 15 minutes, says Trojian.

If you decide that you can exercise safely, it’s best to reduce the workout load and see if symptoms worsen. “You can exercise if your symptoms are all above the neck, like a runny nose, nasal congestion, or a sore throat,” says Trojian.īelow the neck symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, or muscle aches are signs that you should let your body rest and recover, notes Fibel.Īlways avoid exercising when you have a fever.

One way to determine the severity of your illness before you exercise is to conduct a neck check. RELATED: Heart Attack Symptoms Follow the Above-the-Neck Rule to Be Safe If you think you’re experiencing arrhythmia, contact your doctor immediately it could lead to cardiac arrest, adds Dr. Trojian.

Fluid retention, with swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet.

Shortness of breath at rest or during physical activity.

Rapid or abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.

Symptoms of myocarditis include these signs: People who have the flu or a lung infection can get worse if they continue working out while sick, says Thomas Trojian, MD, a professor in the department of family, community, and preventive medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and the chief of Drexel’s sports medicine division.Įxercising with the flu may cause inflammation of the heart, or myocarditis. What Are the Risks of Exercising While Sick? Rest can allow your body to recover more quickly and help you get back to your workouts sooner. “When you get sick, sometimes it’s okay to take a few days off from your workout to allow your body to better fight off the infection,” says Dr. That means it may take longer for you to get better. In addition, working out too intensely while sick can make fighting off infection more difficult, says Kenton Fibel, MD, a family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. “Exercising with influenza can weaken you further and can potentially put others at risk,” says Bayes.

Experts say that it’s a good idea to forgo working out when you’re this sick. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, runny nose, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Bayes, if you exercise within the limits of your comfort level, it’s unlikely to do you harm - and may even help you feel better. The common cold typically shows up as a runny nose, cough, and scratchy throat, without a fever. Should you exercise? The answer depends on your symptoms.ĭifferentiating between a cold and the flu is important before deciding whether to exercise, says Matt Bayes, MD, a sports medicine and regenerative orthopedic specialist at Bluetail Medical Group in Chesterfield, Missouri. You’ve made a commitment to being more physically active, but now you’re sick.

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