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Health & Fitness

Should You Exercise When Sick?

Exercising when you are sick may be a benefit.

Some of us are "Die-Hard" exercisers, even when we are sick. The choice to exercise or not sometimes depends on the sickness or disease. Our bodies work harder and usemore energy when we are fighting an illness.

Advise from Loyola University Health System clears up some confusion. If symptoms are above the neck (sore throat, runny nose), it is probably okay to exercise. A prevailing thought is that increased respiration during exercise helps to dislodge virus' from our mucous membranes.


If you're sick and still want to exercise, reduce your intensity and duration. You should not exercise if you have body aches, fever, diarrhea or vomiting, shortness of breath or chest congestion, dizziness or light-headedness. When resuming your regular exercise routine, try starting with 50% effort and 50% duration. 

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