People who schedule exercise into their busy day are more likely to get it done than those who do it when they have a free moment. But sometimes life throws a wrench into the best laid plans to exercise. Illness is a good example. Few people feel like going on a power walk when they have a temperature of 101 degrees. Despite this, some gung-ho exercisers choose to tough it out even when they feel ill. Is this a good idea? Should you exercise when you're sick?
While it's good to be committed to fitness, everyone needs a day of rest especially when they've pushed themselves too hard and, particularly, when they're sick. That being said, whether you exercise when sick should depend upon how sick you are. Most people who are simply feeling a little tired with no other symptoms may feel re-energized after a workout. There's really no better cure for simple sluggishness than forty minutes of fast paced aerobic activity.
On the other hand, there are probably more times that you shouldn't exercise when sick than occasions that you should. If you're running a fever, it's almost always best to take the day off. Intense exercise can temporarily suppress immune function and make it more difficult to fight off a cold or flu virus. Exercise also causes fluid loss through sweating which is harmful if you're running a fever. There are few benefits to exercising with a febrile illness.
It's also best to take the day off from exercise if you're vomiting or have diarrhea. Exercising when you're sick with a gastrointestinal virus can lead to dehydration, lightheadedness, fainting, and dangerous electrolyte imbalances. If you have to make extra trips to the bathroom, do yourself a favor and give exercise a rest.
Keep in mind that when you go to the gym to exercise when you're sick, you're exposing other people to illness. How many times have you heard someone with a hacking cough walking on the treadmill next to you? Chances are they're doing themselves and others around them more harm than good. It's best not to spread your illness around the gym.
It's also important to avoid exercising outdoors in cold weather when you're sick for obvious reasons. If you're not feeling well, some gentle stretching exercises or yoga moves can be a good substitute for your standard workout until you start to feel better. Sometimes it's best to give your body a few days to heal and then you can come back stronger than ever!
那些平時工作繁忙卻能安排有規(guī)律的鍛煉的人似乎比整天悠閑自在的人們更容易實(shí)施鍛煉計劃。不過有些時候生活中的一些事會破壞掉哪怕是最好的鍛煉計劃。例如生病。很少有人在發(fā)燒101度的時候喜歡出去快步行走。盡管如此,還是有些狂熱的鍛煉者會在生病時強(qiáng)迫自己鍛煉。這么做好嗎?人生病的時候到底是否應(yīng)不應(yīng)該鍛煉?
當(dāng)然致力于保持健康是件好事,每個人都需要放松,尤其是忙碌工作之后和生病的時候。也就是說,生病的時候是否應(yīng)該鍛煉取決于你生病的程度。大部分僅感覺輕微勞累但無其它癥狀的人適當(dāng)鍛煉一下會感覺精力倍增。對付單純的精神萎頓,沒有比四十分鐘的有氧快速步行更有效了。
另一方面,假如你生病,那么不應(yīng)該鍛煉的時候大概比應(yīng)該鍛煉的時候多。如果你發(fā)燒了,那最好哪兒也別去。劇烈的運(yùn)動會在短期內(nèi)抑制你的免疫力,更難以對付那些感冒和病毒。鍛煉時出汗會造成體液流失,這對你的病情有害無利。因此發(fā)燒的時候鍛煉沒有任何好處。
在你腹瀉嘔吐時你也最好別去鍛煉。得了腸胃病時去鍛煉會導(dǎo)致脫水、輕微頭痛、昏厥以及身體電解質(zhì)失去平衡。所以你最好到浴室里泡個澡放松一下,先不要去鍛煉。
記住,如果你帶病去健身房鍛煉,你還會殃及別人。你聽說過有人一面咳嗽一面在你旁邊的跑步機(jī)上練習(xí)嗎?如果那樣的話,那將會對他和他周圍的人都沒有好處。所以最好不好把疾病帶到健身房里。
顯而易見,避免生病時在寒冷的天氣進(jìn)行戶外鍛煉也同樣重要。如果你感覺不舒服,可進(jìn)行一些輕微的活動或瑜伽。有時候不去鍛煉,讓身體放松幾天,等痊愈后你會覺得比以前更強(qiáng)壯。