Exercise When You Are Sick???

Is it OK to exercise when you have a cold?
How soon can I safely exercise after a bad bout of the flu?

Cold and flu season is here, but it doesn't have to wreak total havoc on your fitness status. Most people who come down with a cold should be able to continue exercising — as long as they're up for it. There is no evidence that exercising during a cold is bad for you.

Still, a stuffy head and the Stairmaster may not mix very well. It may be harder to breathe.

That may be particularly true for people with asthma. The common cold can inflame the airways, and when people with asthma exercise they may experience chest tightening. Exercising outdoors in the winter cold can further exacerbate the problem.

With the flu, it may be hard to think about exercising when you're aching and feverish, not to mention nauseated and vomiting. So it's best to rest and recuperate, experts say.

You're not going to feel like exercising with the flu. You're going to feel like crawling into bed.

As for how long to wait before hitting the gym again, experts recommends avoiding anything too strenuous for at least a week after the flu is gone. You may have to start slowly when you begin exercising again, but a couple of weeks off isn't enough to undo all the hard work you've done to get in shape.

As a general rule, if your symptoms are from the neck up (e.g. sniffles, sneezing), it's OK to exercise, although mild to moderate activity such as walking is best. If the illness is systemic, as with the flu, it's best to take it easy.

The bottom line, Follow your body. If you're sick with the cold or flu and you don't feel like doing anything more than surfing the channels from your couch, go ahead — without the guilt.

Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10085473/