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Working out is a great way to keep your body healthy. However, if you are a fitness enthusiast and feeling under the weather, there will be times when you will need to prioritise rest to gain a speedy recovery.
Healthline provides explanations as to when it is safe to work out and when it is not recommended when you are ill.
It is safe to work out if you have…
- An earache: This can be caused by a sinus infection, a sore throat, a tooth infection, or changes in pressure. The earache may feel uncomfortable, causing a feeling of fullness or pressure in the head. Note that exercise can be safe when you have an earache. However, you should try to stay away from exercises that put pressure on the sinus region. Therefore, light walking will suffice.
- A mild cold: Symptoms differ from person to person, although sneezing, a stuffy nose, a headache, and a mild cough are common. As a way of exercising, you can take a light walk outside or at home. Make sure to practise proper hygiene to prevent spreading your cold to others.
- A mild sore throat: This may often be associated with mild common cold symptoms like fatigue and congestion. Although you can exercise with a mild sore throat, consider reducing the intensity of your normal exercise routine.
- A stuffy nose: It is safe to exercise if you are only experiencing nasal congestion as it may open up nasal passages, helping you to breathe better.
It is not recommended to work out if you have…
- A fever: It is best to skip a workout if you have a fever as it can increase the risk of dehydration, making your fever worse.
- Flu symptoms: One of the flu symptoms is a fever. Although not everyone may have this symptom, it is best to not exercise to avoid the risk of dehydration.
- Productive or frequent coughs: Frequent coughing can be a symptom of a respiratory infection (flu, cold, pneumonia). If your coughing persists, you may have difficulty breathing, especially when your heart rate rises during exercise.
- A stomach bug: With stomach bugs may come diarrhoea and vomiting among other symptoms. This can put you at risk of dehydration which physical activity worsens.
Also see: Why you should not exercise on an empty stomach
