Should You Exercise With a Cold?

Well, that’s a big question! If you’ve cough, runny nose and even sore throat then is it okay to exercise? Many people think exercise is good in this condition because it can boost the immune system and help them to recover fast. But doctors say that there is no such evidence of it. So, you can’t tell surely that exercise will improve the condition. Besides, if you are already feeling too fatigued then situation can become worse after exercising.

But on the other hand you cannot say that exercise won’t improve the situation as well. With mild cough, runny nose and headache it is usually okay to exercise. As long as you don’t have any breathing difficulty you are fine with it. Important thing is avoid doing heavy exercise and prolonged exercise.  In case of severe cold and cough, it is better not doing the exercise. Sometimes cold medications such as decongestants can increase your heart rate. In addition, your heart rate is increased with exercise. This will make your heart to pump very hard and you can face the breathing problem.

People who are suffering from asthma and cold should take doctor’s advice before exercise. Otherwise health condition can become worse. Also, if you have fever with cold then it’s better to wait for few days and take some rest. Last but not the least, listen to your body. Normally, exercise makes you feel better but in certain cases when you’re exercising without recovering from cold or any other health problem, your body may take more time to recover from illness. Therefore, if you face any problem during exercise such as increased chest congestion, short of breath, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness or difficulty in balance, you should stop your workout and consult your doctor.