This is one of the most asked questions and one of the most debatable topics around the internet. Various fitness freaks and athletes especially in their beginning phase get confused regarding ‘Is it okay to exercise with a cold?’
Some people don’t wanna skip their workout under any condition and when these kinds of people get sick then also they don’t skip their workout.
Well, when a body gets sick there are plenty of changes happening in the body. In this situation, doctors suggest providing proper stress to the body. Still, if someone wants to continue then should he/she go for a workout or not.?
Some workout positions will help to immunize the body which is beneficial for the body especially when the body is sick.
But, if your sickness is severe then doing the workout is not preferred.
Your physical ability, immune system, level of sickness, and type of workout are the deciding factors and these factors decide if doing exercise during sickness is good for you or not.
When our body is sick then our immune system is already busy fighting viruses and bacteria and doing extreme work out in this situation may bring weakness in your body because you don’t have that much energy to perform the workout properly.
But, if you love moving your body while dealing with a milk headache and runny nose then you can go and work out even if your body is sick.
How does cold affect your ability to exercise?
Cold makes your body weak and tired and when you go for a run with a runny nose and perform good and intensive work out then there is a high possibility that your body feels low energy and tired.
Cold will affect your body badly and you feel less muscle strength and endurance. This makes you feel wiped out. Also, your body starts heating very fastly when you work out during a cold.
Does Working Out Help Fight Off a Cold?
According to Doctors and medical professionals, there is not a single proven research that proves that doing a workout during a cold will shorten the duration of a cold.
Yes, many doctors say that doing workouts/exercise may help to boost your immune system over time but this doesn’t conclude that the duration of colds decreases.
When a person exercises then there are a lot of hormones that can make you feel great to release from your body.
But, if you’re doing too much exercise and following the intensive routine of exercise then keep in mind that you’re making things worse.
One of the most important things that we ignore in this context is that when we work out then we lose sweat from our bodies. This may cause dehydration and when you’re sick then your body must be hydrated.
Whether you’re dealing with a severe cold or a normal cold, just listen to your body. If it requires rest then the body will give you appropriate signs. At this time, you have to stop yourself and give complete rest to your body.
When can we work out with a cold?
If you can’t stop yourself from doing work out then following the ‘Neck Rule’ will be very beneficial for you.
If all the symptoms that you have are above the neck, then you’re safe to work out and you can perform a light workout. But, if the symptoms of cold reach the body below then you should not exercise.
If you have symptoms like
- Nasal Congestion,
- Runny Nose,
- Sore throat
Then you’re safe to do a workout but if the symptoms are more severe then take complete bed rest.
Best and Worst Workouts to Do/Avoid when you have a Cold
If you’re a light cold and you wanna exercise then the best exercise that you should do which improves your immune system are Light Jogging, Elliptical, Light resistance training, and Exercise Bike.
But there are some types of exercises that you should avoid if you’re doing a workout during a cold. HIIT, Heavy Resistance training, and long runs are strictly prohibited by doctors and medical specialists when you have a cold.
Learn more about