I don’t know about you, but it’s been a pretty bad cold/flu season here in the Kraft household.
First, I came down with my first cold (flu?) in about three or four years, and it was a whopper. I still don’t know if it was a milder version of the flu – (Yep. I had my flu shot. But new reports say the developers kind of slipped…and didn’t guess it right with as much accuracy as past years. It’s only something like 56% effective; even less so if you are over 65) – or it was just a bad, old-fashioned, stubborn cold.
Then, hubby got the bug. Around the same time, younger son was treated to his own shitty version.
Anyhow, it’s two weeks later and I still feel some remnants of congestion, although I’m happy to report I’m not grabbing for a tissue every five seconds.
One thing I made sure to do as soon as I was able was to haul myself to the gym. Granted, a cold may be severe enough to deplete you of any available energy or keep your miserable body safe and under the covers. And naturally, to put yourself around people when you’re spewing germs is inconsiderate and just not wise.
But, if you’re feeling up to it – and your symptoms are all “above the neck” (meaning a case of the sniffles, a stuffy nose, sneezing or scratchy throat) – exercise may actually do you some good.
Here’s how:
- It can open up your nasal passages and relive congestion
- It can boot your immune system by fighting off simple bacterial and viral infections
- It can flush bacteria out of the lungs – thus decreasing your chances of catching a cold, flu or other airborne illness
- It can speed up the rate of antibodies and white blood cells – when they circulate more rapidly, they can detect illnesses and other foreign invaders earlier than they might have done normally
- It can temporarily raise your body temperature, which may allow your body to fight infections more effectively (similar to how your body works when it has a fever)
If you’re feeling a bit under the weather and willing to exercise, it’s likely you’ll have to pare down your normal routine. I had to decrease the speed, intensity and length of my workout considerably when I first went back to the gym. But it only took a few sessions to work back up to my normal routine.
And if you are motivated to use exercise as a way to boost your immunity and not get sick in the first place, be cautious: more is not necessarily better. Studies have shown that heavy, long-term exercise (like marathon running and intense gym training) could actually have the opposite effect, and actually decrease the number of disease-fighting white cells and increase those unwanted stress-related hormones.
Otherwise, a sniffle, a scratchy throat? You’re good to go.
Who knows?
You may come back feeling like a whole new person.
ruth pennebaker says
Having already hit the elliptical and a yoga class today, I’m happy to be reminded of how healthy exercise is. It also — I’m convinced — makes me saner.
SherylK says
Well, Ruth, saner is almost as good as healthier – or, come to think of it, it IS the same thing!
Living Large says
I haven’t had a cold or the flu in some years (knocking on wood), but I know when I feel bad, such as having PMS, getting out and walking helps.
SherylK says
You must have a really great immune system, LL. Nice that you have so far escaped a miserable cold and flu season this year (knocking wood along with you!)
Alexandra says
Wish the weather would improve and allow walking. That’s my favorite exercise.
SherylK says
I know…I’m with you, Alexandra. Once the warm weather comes, I’m so so happy to get outside and walk, rather than staying inside the gym.
merr says
I have found that exercise does move the congestion through faster, when done at the right time in a cold cycle (after plenty of rest) and not overdone, but with enough of a sweat to move things.
SherylK says
Yes, it’s really amazing how well exercise works at clearing that stuffy nose, isn’t it?
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable says
Makes sense that exercise would help with congestion.
As an aside, related to your mention of flu, a friend of mine had a horrible, horrible sickness run through her household, complete with the general flu symptoms. Her son ended up in the ER three times and was swabbed – they never figured out what it was, but it was definitely NOT the flu. I wonder how many cases of a bad nasty virus like that are attributed to the flu every year?
SherylK says
Oh, how frightening. Good point; so many things FEEL like they must be the flu that it’s easy to mistake them for it.
Irene S. Levine says
Thanks for these wonderful reminders!
To your health…
SherylK says
You are very welcome, Irene! To your health, as well.
Donna Hull says
A great reminder to keep on working out when you can. For the first time ever, I got the flu shot. So far, so good. Knock on wood.
SherylK says
I hope the flu shot protects you well, Donna!~
Mykidseatsquid says
So sorry you’ve had the flu. I had it too–and I don’t tend to get sick. You might check, though, that you didn’t end up with a sinus infection if you’re still sniffly. I couldn’t wait to get back to the gym.
SherylK says
Well, I’m happy to report the sniffles have retreated, so a sinus infection was not the culprit…just took a very long time to clear up.
Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart says
Yes, please stay home from the gym (or anywhere) if you are totally germy. I’ve been on the verge of panic getting out of the grocery store in recent weeks with all the people snorting / sneezing / coughing. Completely grosses me out. BUT, while I was battling a small cold this last week, I did try to do at least a little walking in our pastures and a bit of yoga. Exercise, yes. Putting other people in the wake of my germs, no.
SherylK says
Much better, I agree, to stay away from people and the possibility of spreading your germs when you are sick. Keep your cold to yourself, thank you!
Jeanine Barone says
I’m glad you discussed that heavy duty exercise can be an immune suppressor. Actually the relationship between exercise and immunity is a bell-shaped curve. People who exercise moderately typically have better immune systems, at least when looking at specific immune cells/activity, than those who are sedentary.
Jane Boursaw says
I do find that getting outside in fresh air helps to clear the sinuses during a cold.