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Exercising While Sick Not Always A Bad Idea

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Dec 26, 2008 9:04 pm US/Eastern

Exercising While Sick Not Always A Bad Idea

 CBS News Interactive: Healthwatch

DENVER (CBS) ― Research shows exercise is a great way to boost your immunity and stay healthy, but what happens if you get sick?

Should you stay away from the gym if you're feeling a bit under the weather or is it okay to sweat out the sickness?

If you are trying to fight through a bad infection, it generally is a really bad idea, according to CBS station KCNC-TV's medical reporter Dave Hnida. But for not-so-serious bugs -- or if you are well on the road to recovery -- a little workout is probably not going to be harmful.

Hnida recommends following the "rule of the neck."

Divide your symptoms into those above the neck and those below the neck. If you don't feel too bad and all you've got is a stuffy head, runny nose or a scratchy throat -- a little workout might be OK.

But if your symptoms are mainly below the neck -- like fever and muscle aches, a cough or an upset stomach -- you need to stay on the sidelines.

If you ultimately decide that things aren't so bad and you will exercise, you still don't want to go full speed. Work your way back slowly. Walk and stretch to see if your body is ready for a workout.

Doctors say it can take 2 weeks or so after some infections to fully recover.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.