EXERCISE AND ILLNESS: Should I exercise when I'm sick?

Whether it's a cold or an allergy attack, being sick can interrupt your exercise schedule and make you feel flabby as well as sniffly.  But is it safe to exercise when you're sick, or should you force yourself to rest?

The short answer is, sometimes exercise is good when you're sick, other times it's not.  Here's the rule of thumb you should use:

• Proceed with your workout if your signs and symptoms are "above the neck" — such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or sore throat. Be prepared to reduce the intensity of your workout if needed, however.
• Postpone your workout if your signs and symptoms are "below the neck" — such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach. Likewise, don't exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.

Our bodies are pretty good at letting us know what they like and don't like, so pay attention to what yours is saying.  If you have a fever or feel feverish, you need rest -- not exercise.  Once your fever breaks, try starting off with light exercise first, letting your body become accustomed to movement again.

Giving yourself a reasonable dose of light or moderate exercise when you're sick can actually help speed recovery from a cold or allergies by stimulating circulation and clearing the sinuses.  Next time you're under the weather, try it!

-Daniel Bockmann, DC

To read more about exercise and illness, click here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/AN01097

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