SHOULD YOU SKIP YOUR WORKOUT IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL? WHY SOME EXERCISE IS BENEFICIAL WHEN YOU’RE SICK Getting sick is terrible, especially if you’re trying to stick to a consistent workout routine. You may think sickness means more rest days — but in fact, depending on your symptoms, continuing to exercise could be a good thing. While it may seem like common sense to avoid exerting yourself too much when you’re feeling under the weather, the effects of exercising while you’re sick are a bit more nuanced than you think.
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In late February, Dr. Scott Saario of ChiroCabarrus Chiropractic packed his bags to join a team of 50 other health care providers and missionaries on a trip to Cusco, Peru. There, he and the dozens of optometrists, nurses, physicians, and physical therapists he worked with (including his wife Melissa) spent five days treating 1,850 sick patients.
If you’re sick and trying to decide if you should try to get a workout in, assess where you feel your symptoms. Are they only above the neck? Or are they above and below the neck? Symptoms of a head cold, such as a runny nose, a mildly sore throat, and some congestion, shouldn’t keep you from exercising. At the very worst, you might just have to cut back the intensity of your workout. If you usually go for a run, try decreasing the time of your run or going for a walk instead. There’s actually evidence that exercise can help alleviate symptoms located above the neck when you’re sick. For instance, walking and jogging can help clear up congested nasal passages. Many runners will attest to the fact that their workout actually helps them feel better when they’re sick. There’s also evidence that yoga can boost your immune system and ease aches related to sinus issues. Saying “om” might even help too, as one study found humming could actually aid in opening clogged sinuses. If you have a fever or any type of stomach problem, however, you should skip your workout altogether. And if your workouts seem to exacerbate your sickness, take a break until the sickness subsides. That said, it’s nice to know that it takes more than a little case of the sniffles to throw off your workout routine!
“A big part of it is reaching out with hope for people who don’t have any,” Dr. Saario says. “It’s really about touching the spiritual side of things, not just the physical. We were there to help them with whatever parasite, ache, pain, or injury they had, but also to spread the hope that’s in Jesus. That was our mission.” 2020 marked the 10th year of the informal mission trip, which has become a tradition for health care workers across the South in states including Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. It was Dr. Saario’s first time joining the group.
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