Question:
I have come down with a cold recently. Is there any reason not
to go jogging while I'm sick?
Answer:
If your symptoms are located above the neck -- a stuffy or runny
nose, sneezing -- then exercise is
probably safe. Start slowly, and if you feel better after 10
minutes, continue, if you feel worse, stop. If you have
below-the-neck symptoms, for example, muscle aches, hacking cough,
fever of 100 degrees or higher, chills,
diarrhea, or
vomiting, you should avoid exercise. Exercising when you have
these symptoms may raise your temperature, dehydrate you, and
weaken you further. A sore
throat could go either way, and you need to see how your energy
and strength level is. Whatever your symptoms are, if you're
feeling really weak, it's better not to exercise because when your
body is fighting an infection, you could suffer a setback, plus
your performance would be greatly diminished and you probably
wouldn't be getting very much out of the workout.
Richard Weil, MEd, CDE, is an
exercise physiologist and certified diabetes educator. He has
published dozens of articles on exercise and health and has
appeared on many television programs. He also speaks about health
at many national conferences.
The opinions expressed herein
are the guest's alone and have not been reviewed by a WebMD
physician. If you have a question about your health, you should
consult your personal physician. This event is meant for
informational purposes only.
WOOHOO~ ok time to go jog.
