Exercise And The Common Cold
By: Daniel Green
There are basically two questions connecting exercise with the common cold: (1) Can exercise improve my ability to fight off colds? and (2) Should I exercise when I have a cold? These are two very different issues, but since the average person catches between two and five colds each year, they are both very important ones. Let's look at them one at a time.
Can exercise improve my ability to fight off colds?
Exercise certainly is not a cure for the common cold. So many things contribute to the strength of your immune system-including age, cigarette smoking, nutrition, and genetics-that there is no magical solution. But recent studies are finding that exercise may improve your chances against those pesky little viruses. In addition to anecdotal evidence-exercise enthusiasts routinely report fewer illnesses than people living less active lifestyles-there is now evidence that every time you get some exercise your immune system gets a quick boosts that can last a few hours beyond the end of your exercise session. And, as in all aspects of health and well being, exercise certainly can't hurt.
Should I exercise when I have a cold?
We've all been there, asking ourselves if a quick workout will make us feel better or worse. A good guideline is that if the cold is above the neck-no rattling cough or congestion in the chest-and is not accompanied by a fever, then moderate exercise is safe and a good idea. If the cold is below the neck or includes a fever, you're better off resting for a while until those symptoms disappear. The more severe your symptoms, the more rest you need.
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Daniel Green is the Managing Editor for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and an ACE-certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant. He is also a Contributing Editor to both ACE
Fitness Matters and ACE Certified News. Visit the ACE Web site at
www.acefitness.org.
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