Time To Have Fun With Exercise
Granting exercise benefits the body. But, a time to take exercise easy and slow is when you are ill or too exhausted or hurting to exercise. A number of pains and aches can make exercise unappealing. Being aware of when to exercise or when to delay can be a tough one.
The answer is to be able to understand and listen to your body, including the signs it’s giving you. Then you can decide if exercise is right at that time. Experts shared some advice on whether you should or shouldn’t exercise due to illness.
When You Are Feverish
When you’re burning with fever is time to take exercise easy and slow. Stay at home and rest. A fever is your body’s way of fighting an infection. The last thing you need is the stress of exercise on top. But if you exercise anyway, be alert for overheating and dehydration. This is because your body fluids decrease when you have a fever. Moreover, you probably wouldn’t get a great workout since the fever lifts your resting heart rate. And this leads to a less effective workout.
When You Have A Cold
Having a cold doesn’t mean you can’t exercise if you want to. Though, the blocked nose and sneezing might make you uncomfortable. It is OK to do moderate-intensity workouts if you have a common cold. But when you go to the gym ensure you use hand sanitiser and wipe off any surfaces you touch so you don’t pass the virus to others. On the other hand, if you decide to skip exercise that’s alright too. Though exercising with a cold will not worsen the situation.
When You Have Flu
A time to take exercise easy is when you have flu. Better still, skip the gym and go to bed. Avoid your workout until you get better. Fever normally comes with flu so take the advice not to work out when you have a fever.
When Your Asthma Flares Up
Another time to take exercise easy is when your asthma flares up. Avoid workouts for a few days if the flare-up is due to a respiratory infection. And see a doctor if symptoms don’t subside. On the other hand, it may be alright to work out if your doctor has given you the OK to exercise. Nonetheless, start slowly and warm up for ten minutes. Begin with low to moderate-intensity spaced-out exercise. Alternatively, indoor swimming may be better if your asthma is triggered by exercise.
Stop exercising if you become breathless or feel tired and weak. Be sure to have a treatment at arm’s reach all the time. This means you take your inhaler with you to the gym, or perhaps use it before the exercise.
When You Had A Concussion
If you’ve had a concussion, don’t exercise or be involved in any sport until your doctor says it’s safe to do so, even if you feel fine. Your brain needs to heal properly after a painful brain injury. The brain is at a higher risk of swelling and terrible impairment if there’s another head injury during exercise before the concussion has healed.
When An Old Exercise Injury Is Disturbing
If you’ve had an old injury that’s still causing your pain, it is time to take exercise easy. In fact, preferably avoid workouts and see your doctor. Having sudden pain during activity is not a good sign. It requires urgent medical attention.
When You’re Too Tired
Get out of bed and get moving. A morning workout may be just what your body needs after a tiring night to increase your energy level and get you ready for the day. So get out of bed and go for a jog. But if you’re always tired to the point of not being able to do anything, avoid the workout and see your doctor. Extreme or persistent fatigue can be a sign of illness.
When You Felt A Sharp Pain
The time to take exercise easy is when you feel a sharp pain during earlier exercise. Avoid working out until a doctor rules out an injury. You may make the injury worse if you work through pain anyway. While it’s OK to feel soreness after a workout, feeling pain is not great.
When Your Back Pains
Go easy for a few days to see if your back feels better. Try to find out what improves the pain or worsens it. If bending or twisting causes you to grimace in pain, try to avoid these movements to promote healing. But if your pain is persistent or restricts your daily activities, see your doctor.
When Your Muscles Hurt
If your muscles hurt, you can still go to the gym but ensure it is a light-intensity workout, such as walking instead of running. It is also OK to avoid your workout and rest if the soreness is really bad. And if your muscles are extremely sore as a result of overdoing it the last time you exercised, ensure you make your workout more sensible.
When You’re Pregnant
Pregnancy normally should not prevent you from working out. But it is also a time to take exercise easy. When you’re expecting a baby, talk to your doctor about a safe exercise program. Yoga, swimming, walking, and other low-impact and moderate-intensity exercises can be very beneficial during pregnancy. Ensure you remain hydrated, take interval breaks, and avoid getting overheated. Avoid exercises that put pressure on your back and belly. Exercises you should avoid during pregnancy include contact activities such as skiing, water skiing, bicycling, and horse riding. These exercises have the risk of falls and abdominal injury.
When You’re Burned Out
Exercise may help reduce your stress and lift your energy when you’re really burned out. So put on your gym clothes and start a moderate workout. There’s every good chance you’ll feel better after 10 or 15 minutes and want to continue.
Don’t Rush Back To Exercise
After you’ve abandoned exercise for a while due to an illness or injury, take things easy and steady. Don’t rush your comeback. It is definitely time to take exercise easy.
It takes a lot of energy to maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. But little time to lose it. Noticeable decline in exercise capacity can be seen in as little as two to three weeks. Return to exercise slowly and carefully. Walking is a great way to return to exercise without overtaxing the body.
Several factors are considered when deciding how quickly you can return to exercise after a break. These factors include the length of your break, your age, and your previous fitness level. If you had a long-term illness, check with your doctor about any restrictions on exercise. Avoid exercise if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Remember, there is a thin line between pushing yourself and pushing yourself too hard. Rest is the best medicine if you have a serious infection.
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19935911/exercise-with-a-cold/
Photo Credit: Creative Commons.
