Should you workout while sick?

If you do get a cold, should you workout anyway?

Before deciding, evaluate the illness. According to Men’s Health Magazine, if your symptoms are above the neck, like a sore throat, congestion, or sneezing, then it is okay to continue working out or jump back in rather quickly.

For symptoms below the neck like vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, and nausea, it is probably best to stay home for a while.

System-wide symptoms like fevers and body aches should also be treated with rest.

According to CNN, more severe illnesses affect the body in lots of ways and they are already putting the body through a lot of stress. Adding an intense workout on top of that stress is likely to cause problems.

Diarrhea and vomiting, for instance, can lead to dehydration through fluid losses on their own so adding a lot of aerobic-induced sweat will only compound matters further.