exercise and viruses

[jon]

I know the normal advice when you have a nasty cold/flu etc. is basically to rest, drink plenty of water etc. Suggestions for how long to wait after the worst is over before going back to regular exercise seem to vary a lot though - from pretty much as soon as you can walk to leaving it a week... Anyone got, or got a link to, reliable info on this?

Have had a sodding flu-lite type thing for the past few days...and it's getting to the point where not going to the gym is annoying me more than the virus

 

[athon]

There's no clear line you can draw. 'Know thyself' is kind of the advice you should take. Go easy for a week, maybe some light sessions which don't exhaust you. Drink plenty of water and don't tire yourself. Yes, the endorphins are nice but you can go a week or so without your fix.

I know you need your dosage, but it's either that or you prolong your state of illness for another few days. Heal first, exercise later.

Athon

 

[jon]

Thanks - sounds like sensible enough advice (and am meant to be at a conference next week so a sore throat wouldn't help).

But I want some endorphins, dammit

 

[Aardvark]

Rollercoaster???

 

[jon]

ugh - only buzz I get from a rollercoaster is I can get off the thing. Reminds me what motion sickness used to feel like

 

[roger]

It's too late now, but if you are reliably taking your resting heart rate, it's an excellent barometer of your current health and readiness for exercise. And if you aren't, well, you're probably not a serious athelete anyway (no slur intended), and so waiting a few extra days, or starting a day or two early isn't going to matter too much. Just take it easy when you start and see how you respond.

 

[Dymanic]

Due to a chronic condition, I have a lot of bad days -- days on which I probably feel about like a person of average overall health feels when down with a bug. Exercise is an important part of my management plan, and warm-up and stretching is an important part of my exercise regimen. On days when I'm just not up for a full workout, I still get a lot of benefit out of doing just the warm-up. You might try starting there, and gradually working back up to your normal level.

 

[jon]

thanks for the suggestions. Am not a serious athlete at all - I don't take that as a slur, am quite happy to admit that I lack the motivation

Was feeling better today, so did a short session this afternoon (missed out the more strenuous cardio and used slightly lighter weights - all seemed OK ) Just doing the warm-up was a good idea, as well.

 

[Mr. Scott]

I know the normal advice when you have a nasty cold/flu etc. is basically to rest, drink plenty of water etc. Suggestions for how long to wait after the worst is over before going back to regular exercise seem to vary a lot though - from pretty much as soon as you can walk to leaving it a week... Anyone got, or got a link to, reliable info on this?

Have had a sodding flu-lite type thing for the past few days...and it's getting to the point where not going to the gym is annoying me more than the virus

One doctor said that as a general rule, if you are sick from the neck up (ex. a head cold) you can exercise, but from the neck down (ex. flu) don't. Also don't if you're running a fever.

When I worked out in gyms, I tended to get lots of cold and flu viruses, probably because other patrons left them on the machines. That can make it confusing. Did I catch yet another bug because I worked out too soon after my last cold, or because some macho numbskull came to the gym sick?

 

[jon]

thanks for the info. Never figured that gym machines etc. would be a likely source of colds. I vaguely remember reading that *very* vigourous exercise (what for most people would be over-training) can weaken the immune system, but could well be mis-remembering that.

 

[jon]

btw roger, does resting pulse rate normally go up or down when ill? Don't take mine at all systematically, but it's down to 60 now...which is definitely lower than its been before

 

[El Greco]

I meant to get to this but was lazy, as usual. Anyway:

In people with systemic viral infections, the risk of cardiac-related sudden death increases during exercise. The Coxsackie virus has been shown to have a tendency to invade the heart muscle, so exercising with a systemic Coxsackie infection may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Several clinical studies have reported that exercising with a viral illness may have contributed to bacterial meningitis and acute rhabdomyolysis (muscle destruction). One study reported worsened symptoms with exercise in an asthma victim. In racehorses, upper respiratory infections have been associated with poor performance.
Viral illnesses decrease physical performance and affect muscle structure. Isometric strength decreases in patients with active viral infections, and recovery may take as long as one month. Reduced levels of several muscle substrates and enzymes have been found in patients with active viral illnesses. Muscle samples, observed with an electron microscope, have also revealed cellular abnormalities.
People experiencing a sudden loss in performance without any symptoms of illness may have a subclinical viral infection. Resumption of training after a viral illness depends on the symptoms. If symptoms are limited to the upper respiratory tract, then training can resume in a few days. However, if symptoms are general and more severe, then more rest is needed. Patients should rest at least one day for every day of illness.

This is from an extended chapter on disease and exercise from Brooks & Fahey's "Exercise Physiology".

 

[toddjh]

I was in this boat recently. My doctor told me that his general rule was that any amount of exercise was okay as long as the only remaining symptom was a cough. Other than that, he said to use my best judgement and err on the side of caution.

 

[jon]

thanks for the info. Am feeling better now, anyway