Should a Person Exercise During Winter?

On average, an adult has 2 to 3 upper respiratory infections per year. Many of these people are athletes, and they often wonder whether they should continue their exercise routine when they are sick. Though research on this topic has been rather limited to date, many experts suggest that it is safe to exercise if the symptoms are above the neck and there is no fever. Intensive exercise should be carried out only after a few days once the main symptoms are gone. If signs or symptoms of flu (such as extreme tiredness, fever, muscle aches and swollen lymph glands) emerge, then at least two weeks worth of rest is required before carrying out intensive training.

Michael Flynn, a professor of health and kinesiology at the Perdue University, West Lafayette, stated that exercise can strengthen the immune system during the season of cold and flu, provided one does not overdo it. It helps a person to stay in shape, and fights off the virus at a much faster rate, reducing the number of days the illness lingers.