Should you exercise when you’re sick?

Some people can’t stand to skip their exercise routines - even if their sick. So is it safe?

 That depends. According to Dr. David C. Nieman, director of the Human Performance Lab at Appalachian State University, exercise can boost immunity. When active people get sick with a cold, their symptoms are less severe. Exercises like walking while they're sick can cut their sick times by as much as half. However, if you’ve got something worse, skip the exercise. Dr. Nieman says it could make the illness more severe and prolonged. 

• Rest if it's below the neck. If you have symptoms from the neck up — a stuffy nose or sore throat — it's probably just a rhinovirus, which causes the common cold. But when you start to feel achy, or develop a fever, swollen glands, or chest congestion, it's time to lay off the exercise completely. 

• Slow down. You should still take it easy, even if you're just suffering from a runny nose. Pushing it too hard can make matters worse. 

• Get back up to speed gradually. The flu can keep you out of the exercise loop for a week or more, so don't hit the ground running as soon as you feel better. After a symptom-free week of moderate exercise, start easing back into your routine until you're back to where you were before you got sick.