Should I exercise with a cold and sore throat?

Should I exercise with a cold and sore throat or stay in and rest? The answer to these questions is not that simple. It all depends on your symptoms. Read on to find out what you should do.

There is a general rule of thumb that addresses the question if you should exercise with a cold and a sore throat:

• You should probably be all right to get your daily exercise in if the cold symptoms are above the neck – such as runny nose or sore throat.
• In contrast if your symptoms are below the neck, as with chest congestion, it’s a better idea to rest your body.
• Keep in mind that you are the best judge when it comes to assessing your condition. So even if you only have a runny nose, don’t do a workout if you feel exhausted or achy.

Should I exercise with a cold and sore throat? Yes and no; you probably can if you have a cold, but you'd better abstain if you have the flu. People often confuse colds and flu, but they are two distinct illnesses.

Cold
The common cold is caused by a virus. It is characterized by sore throat, runny nose, cough, and mild fatigue.

• The first two symptoms are located above the neck; that means you should be able to exercise without risking making your condition worse.
• In a study done in the late 1990s at the University of Indiana, the cold virus was given to several volunteers, and was not found to affect their athletic performance. Conversely, training did not increase the duration or severity of their colds.
• As for the fatigue, it’s up to you whether you feel fit enough to exercise.

Flu
The flu is somewhat rarer than the common cold. The flu is usually accompanied by symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, and severe fatigue.

• It is not recommended to do any kind of strenuous physical activity when you’re suffering from fever or aches without risking an increase in recovery time or severity of symptoms. In this case, it’s best to take a few days off.

If you have a cold, you can exercise, but avoid activities where you could pass on your germs to someone else.

• If you work out in a fitness centre, carefully wipe down any equipment you’ve used with disposable paper towels.
• Should you not feel well but you still want to work out, lower your expectations.
• And if ever in doubt whether you should keep pace with your training in spite of illness, your doctor is still the best adviser.