Are you one of those people who can't take a day off from the gym, but don't know what to do when you have the flu or a cold? Below we'll show you what some research says about physical activity and the flu or colds.
We all know the importance of physical exercise for the health of the body and also of the mind. Physical activity improves quality of life, as well as preventing diseases such as diabetes, obesity, colds and even heart attacks. It is scientifically proven: those who exercise live longer and better.
But what should we do when we are colds or flu, since the recommendation made by doctors is usually rest? Despite this recommendation, the American College of Sports Medicine states that physical exercise can help relieve symptoms of this disease.
This is not to say that you should go to the gym and work out for hours and hours. The ideal is to carry out exercises of moderate form, lasting approximately 30 minutes a day and only when symptoms are only in the head region. Therefore, you should only engage in physical activity when you experience headaches without fever, sore throat, nasal obstruction, or runny nose.
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If you experience severe body aches, high fever, weakness and chest pain, physical activity is not recommended. In these cases, ideally, you stay in a nursing home and drink plenty of fluids for at least two weeks. In addition, it is important that the practice of activity is gradually resumed. Remember that, in these cases, exercise can pose risks to your health, with the possible aggravation of the disease.
It is important to point out that the old story of “sweating the disease” is nothing but a big myth. There is no scientific proof that exercise during an illness will cure it. In addition, it can be extremely dangerous to carry out activities depending on the disease and the intensity of its symptoms.
In short:
Symptoms only in the head region = moderate exercise allowed
Symptoms that spread beyond the head = avoid performing exercises.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Physical activities and the flu"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/saude/atividades-fisicas-gripe.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
Diseases and pathologies
Cold, upper airway infection, the viruses that cause the cold, how long does it last the cold, how the cold can be transmitted, the symptoms of the cold, treatment of the cold.