How sick is too sick to exercise?

If working out through a mild head cold is ok, when does that get bad enough to press pause on your routine? “It sounds like common sense, but if you’re feeling like you can’t get out of bed then I really don’t think you need to push yourself to exercise,” says Dr Pastides. When that cold becomes a flu, exercise is definitely a no-go. Dr Pastides prescribes rest if you feel faint, are struggling to breathe and/or have aching muscles (not including post-gym DOMS). “Our bodies are very clever and tell us when we need to let ourselves recover.”

What exercise should be avoided with a cold?

Dr Pastides recommends avoiding anything too vigorous if you’re not 100%, and especially anything that will get you too out of breathe if you are already struggling to breathe through your nose. “Just be sensible and listen to your body,” she says. “Sometimes it’s best to take the time to recover and take your exercise through daily walks.”

In the end, exercising won’t make the cold go away any faster, so it’s better to rest and let your body concentrate on fighting the infection.

Should you exercise when you have a cold? A doctor explains how to work out when you’re sick