Dr. Owen Speer, CHI Memorial Primary Care and Sports Medicine Associates – HixsonQ: Is it safe to exercise if I’m sick?
A: Exercise increases circulation, opens up your lungs and can generally help you feel better, but if you feel illness coming on, take a pause and avoid public gatherings like an exercise class or the gym. If the symptoms aren’t too severe and you’re on a recovery path, doing a little bit of exercise can help speed the recovery.
In general, if you’re having upper respiratory symptoms, a little bit of congestion and mild headache, it’s OK to do what you’ve been doing, but with a little less intensity and less time than usual. It’s OK to get out there and stay active and stay on your program. But if you have a high fever, body aches, anything below the neck, symptoms that affect your whole systems, it’s a good idea to take a break. If there’s any question, or you’re not getting better after several days, seek medical attention.
– Dr. Owen Speer, CHI Memorial Primary Care and Sports Medicine Associates – Hixson; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society