No one can deny the benefit of a regular exercise regimen on overall health and disease prevention. Findings continue to support the benefit of regular exercise in strengthening the immune system, enabling it to fight viral and bacterial infections.
Yet, what if you have fever or other flu symptoms? Should you continue to exercise? Would even a light workout worsen flu symptoms?
While mild exercise can help boost your immune system, you may want to be gentle on yourself if you already have the flu. That's when it's time to listen to your body, and give it time to recover.
Rest your body when you have the flu. Allow your body a chance to adjust to the stress of illness. Your immune system functions best when it is not stressed or in overdrive.
If you have a fever with the flu, then be wary of exercise. Typically, people with the flu have fevers for two to five days. A fever is a sign that your body is battling a viral or bacterial infection. Exercising may stress your body even more and result in dehydration. Also, the flu is contagious.
You can infect others for up to 7 days after you have symptoms. You should therefore wait several days until your fever has broken and your body's feeling more energetic before returning to your regular exercise regimen if you exercise with other people.
This time of year is hard on us all. Exercise with caution if not feeling well. Always consult your doctor with any concerns during or after an illness.
Stay well- keep exercising!
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