Is it bad to do cardio or work out while you are sick?

Question

I have been sick for the last week. At the moment I only have a cough and cough up a lot of flem which is usually yellow. Is it bad to do 40+ minutes of cardio while in this condition? I noticed it is harder to breathe and I start coughing a lot after I am done. Can this lead to anything worse (sickness, asthma)?

Answer 1

I dont think it is bad for you, but you really don't need to be going out in public while your still sick. Consider other people. Oh, and its spelled phlegm.

Answer 2

the flem, yellow or sometimes green, is the infection breaking up. I am a personal trainer and agree with many others who have replied. DO NOT work out or do Cardio. Yr body is talking to you, It needs to heal. Your breathing becoming difficult is telling you to STOP. Of course if u dont stop stressing your body, you run the risk of becoming sicker. I doubt you will get asthma from this sickness. You may have it and not know it. One woman last year in NYC started jogging. She noticed that after a mile she would cough and gasp. She had asthma and after so many years was told by her doctor, the jogging started an asthma attack If you dont feel well and that coughing persists. GO to your doctor. Have him/her examine u and mention your asthma concern. They can run tests...

Answer 3

You should be praised for taking interest in your own health but you also need to explain what sick means. Anyone who answers your question is wrong by default because no qualified professional would attempt to give you advice with such sketchy information. There is absolutely no way for anyone here to know what your physical problem is unless they examine you and any advice you get should be taken with a grain of salt.

A healthy cardivascular system is important but your body is a complex system. Your cough can be due to a cold, cancer, asthma, allergy- how can anyone here tell? Apparently you are in fear that your breathing, fundamental to life!, might be in jeopardy so why not invest some time asking a professional physician who can tell you the truth.

There is an old joke. " Doctor, whenever I twist my arm it hurts" the doctor replies "Then don't twist your arm" . If you are experiencing discomfort and you can stop it - well then stop it! Use common sense. However, if you are in fear that there is something very wrong then see a doctor and don't play guessing games.

Answer 4

Kinda...it really depends on the sickness you have. I'm a medical student, FYI. I'm thinking the flem thing is a bad sign. If you have a fever than you should definitely not work out. There are some sicknesses where it's good to work out (certain viral infections where Adrenalin is the only means to reduce certain side effects), but I can't think of any lung ones! You probably shouldn't work out, no. Flem covering your lungs reduces your ability to absorb O2 and in turn that can cause bad things to happen to you, kinda like asthma, yeah.

Answer 5

I am jumping on board with most of the answers. YES, rest-bed rest. Plenty of fluids, orange juice and at least 2000mg of V-C per day.
Consider it pampering yourself which you need at this time. It won't hurt you and no need to feel guilty. A week or two of pampering won't throw you back/off and you will soon be back in the gym and find you will reach your former sick level faster than you think.
Also, consider this. If/since you feel worse and sicker after cardio your body is telling you it is not ready for that. In addition focus on spitting the flem in the toilet and not swallowing it. You are getting the virus out of your body faster.

Answer 6

If you're feeling bad about 'how you feel' when you don't engage in your cardio workout be assured that its not always bad to exercise when you've been ill.

When you cough up yellow or green phlem it could be a sign of infection, which also holds true when your blow your nose. Forty minutes is just a little too long and you could cut that back to about 15 minutes. It's better to take it back until you're able to take it forward. But coughing up this phlem IS good. In spitting out this phlem, it is less for your lungs to have to deal with. Your workout helps in that respect.

It will not lead to asthma.

Answer 7

You should let your body recover with lots of rest before doing cardio workouts! All of your energy is needed to fight this infection or cold and you are using up that energy on training. Just have one week off and go see a doc!

Answer 8

You can still do light cardio. If you need to do it to stay in the habit and not get ur excercise schedule out of whack. Just take it easy. Don't do a lot of anything if ur sick, but a little excercise while ur sick is ok.

Answer 9

When you are sick you are dehydrated. Getting on the cardio machine will only make things worse. You will be dehydrated further, and your body needs fluids.

Rest up. Eat several grapefruits each day. Bundle up and take aspirin with full glasess of water.

Answer 10

The facts are - your body can handle exercise- just not full force- the more you move the harder your body will fight to rid itself of the sickness- so walk -- but don't break a into a major sweat! You will do your body good!

Answer 11

You are not sick anymore. You just have the after affects. You need to clear your body of the junk, so drink lots of water and get out there and walk, get lots of oxygen, but why overdue it. Try 40 minutes of stretching or Yoga instead.