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It’s no fun to be sick with the flu when you’re a fitness enthusiast.
In fact, you don’t even have to be a fitness enthusiast to know this pain.
If you get a cold, you may feel like that’s not enough to stop you from going for a brisk jog, but your doctor may say otherwise. But how sick is too sick, and how much activity can you do when you’re bogged down with a cold or flu?
Most doctors will tell you that if you have a cold without a fever, you’ll be fine doing low-impact activity, like walking, for 30 minutes or less every day.
I know, that sounds like nothing. But it’s at least a little better than nothing.
But some studies say you can do more than that, though the jury is out on whether or not you actually should. A famous study found that 18- to 29-year olds who were infected with rhinovirus found no adverse effect on them when they went for moderate and intense jogs. Their colds also had no effect on their bodies’ response to activity.
But if you have anything that involves muscle pain or fatigue, swollen glands, or fever, it’s probably best to give it a rest. Don’t go into shock, but itt’s recommended that you postpone intense exercise for two weeks after symptoms are gone.
When it comes down to it, it’s best to use your common sense. If your body is telling you not to work out, don’t ignore it. Especially if you’re a gym rat—your fellow gym-goers don’t want your germs.
Prevention is important as well. Sleep, eat a balanced diet, manage your stress, and don’t overdo it, and you’ll be even less likely to get sick in the first place.
