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There is the caution that one should never exercise when sick but is this warning actually based in truth? There are many levels of feeling sick, whether you are just plain exhausted, have a stress headache, a terrible hangover, period pains or a snotty nose and the flu. There are times when exercise can help but others when it can be extremely bad for you and can even lead to death.

If you are honestly sick

If you have the beginnings of a cold or flu but don’t have a fever or stomach bug then about 30 minutes of light exercise a day should be fine and it may even help by relieving nasal congestion. If you have a full-blown cold and stomach bug it is recommended to wait until you are well to start exercising again and when you do start slowly. If you have a sore throat you have probably contracted an infection and so should not spread it by hitting the gym and try and get some sleep and medication.

If you have a fever then you should avoid exercising. If you exercise with a fever you will just get worse and this could even lead to death because of heat stroke or heart failure. If you are vomiting and have diarrhoea you should be at home on your bed and exercise should be avoided.

If you have period pains or a headache

Going for a hike or hitting the gym can help to relieve period pains but try doing a static activity like cycling and wear a supportive bar as your breasts will be sensitive. Regular workouts can also help to relieve headaches and stop them from occurring. If you have constant headaches it is best to exercise in the morning because you may not be getting enough sleep if you exercise at night. Avoid high-impact exercises like boxing and running as sweating and dehydration can make your headache worse. If your headache is caused by alcohol then sweating can help to get rid of toxins and a cardio workout can help you to forget about your problem.

If you are plain exhausted

If you are exhausted everyday you may not be getting enough sleep. A short workout every day can actually help you sleep better provided you don’t workout in the late evening. Exercise to upbeat songs to keep you motivated and also do some stretching exercises.

Tags: Medication