Keep Viruses out of the Gym

You’ve got the crud. You can feeling it coming on full force. Sore throat, runny nose. You really don’t have time to be sick, let alone go see a doctor.

Why not head to the gym and sweat it out, right?

Wrong.

Yes, exercise can help prevent getting colds but it’s actually a bad idea to work out intensely when you’re sick, according to the experts at the American College of Sports Medicine. Sometimes, you can make things much worse for yourself.

Here are some general guidelines from the ACSM:

• Moderate exercise is OK if your symptoms are a runny nose or sore throat. If it’s the common cold, you can get back to intense exercise after a few days of feeling better.
• Don’t try to sweat out your illness. This is a myth, with no proven studies.
• Stay in bed if your symptoms go beyond your head. If you have a respiratory infection, fever, swollen glands and body aches or pains, you should rest, not work out.
• Don’t resume your regular exercise regimen until you’re properly rested. If you’ve been seriously ill with a cold or the flu, you should ease back into the gym after two weeks of rest.

“The good news, for the majority of fitness enthusiasts who put in 30-60 minutes of exercise most days of the week, is that the number of sick days they’ll take during the common cold season is reduced by at least 40 percent,” said Dr. David C. Nieman, ACSM fellow.

Lastly, think about your comrades at the gym. Nobody wants to pick up a virus when they’re at the gym trying to stay healthy.

Source: American College of Sports Medicine

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Alice Warchol is a fitness instructor and freelance health writer.