For many, the thought of giving up their daily or weekly workout is a reason for a bad mood. Sport stands for balance. A counter-impulse to the stressful daily hustle and bustle.
Nevertheless, headaches, back pain and Co. supposedly often a line through the calculation.
But with which illnesses it is actually valid to hang temporarily the running shoes on the nail?
Different diseases – different answers
In the case of an infection or acute pain, the body attempts to to fight the causes as soon as possible and to shake off the discomfort so quickly. Sport represents for the body a additional stress factor literally – sports and illness both cause the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
The rule of thumb that if you can't go to the office, you shouldn't go to the gym is only partially true. After all, many people go to work sick far too often.
When a break from sports is necessary depends on the type of illness.
Sport despite a cold
A cold often announces itself by a runny nose to. Normally, however, other symptoms are soon added to the list. One feels tired and flabby and can hardly get up to still go to the sport. If you still don't want to give up exercising, you should keep these things in mind so that you don't soon find yourself completely flat on your back:
Circuit training and marathon distances are not a good idea with a cold. Especially when the resting pulse is significantly elevated, the Training intensity significantly reduced become. So this means that sniffles can train moderately , but should listen to their own body and, if in doubt, stop training!
After sport is important, not to get cold and risk putting even more strain on the immune system. Functional clothing , absorbs sweat and keeps the skin dry is essential even when healthy. And much more when you don't feel completely fit!
Training for flu-like infections
The symptoms of a cold and an influenza infection are almost indistinguishable from each other. In general, the course of an influenza infection more intense and prolonged than in the case of a cold.
In the case of symptoms that are more than just the upper respiratory tract the risk in sports is much too high! aching limbs and swollen lymph nodes are a clear sign of a flood of viruses in the immune system. warning signals of the body. Must not be simply ignored.
Who despite supposedly harmless neck pain If you play sports, you risk masking dangerous symptoms. For a sore throat can pass quickly, but it can also be an indication of bronchitis or the like.
back and neck pain
Chronic or acute back and neck pain affects a large part of the working population with unattractive regularity.
Often, however, rest is exactly the opposite of what one should do when suffering from back pain. Because back and neck pain have very often muscular causes , which specific exercises and the right sports program can be remedied. Only in rare cases the pain has an organic cause, such as a herniated disc, where physical activity is harmful. A medical examination provides information. If the cause of the pain is clarified, the training can be started.
Abrupt movements as in weight training in the gym or tennis intensify the pain. Other sports, on the other hand, are extremely back friendly and help to prevent pain in the spine area.
Nordic walking, for example is an endurance sport that gently activates the muscles of the whole body and gently corrects posture through arm and leg movements. Also Cycling or Backstroke strengthen the back muscles more gently than, for example, jogging.
And these sports allow you to switch off your head and leave behind stress and hectic activity – also partly responsible for back pain.
Sport in spite of an infection – and if you do?
Who should stay in bed and do sports instead, puts his health at risk. This is an old truism. But what really happens when you train with a fever and a cough??
Sports do not always have dire consequences despite an acute illness, but the medical terms for possible consequences read with a certain shudder: Myocarditis, bronchitis or sinusitis .
In fact, the Risk of secondary infection during sport is particularly high. This can be traced back to the so-called Open Window . This is the period during which the body is particularly weakened after physical activity and viruses and bacteria can enter the bloodstream almost unhindered.
Whether pneumonia, myocarditis or 'just' a cold that persists for weeks – the consequences are annoying and limiting. Better to take it easy than to take a risk!
Better safe than sorry: When is sport possible again??
Enough is enough. When the cold has already caused enough trouble, the question arises, when sport is possible again.
However, there is no blanket answer. After a mild cold, a training start is Immediately after the symptoms have completely subsided possible. After prolonged illness is the basic rule instead: a week fever-free , if you take antibiotics rather 10 days.
And even then, it is important to start slowly and increase just as slowly to prevent relapses.
Author Name: Marlies Tusch
Marlies writes at the sports and nutrition portal iShapely.de around the topics fitness and sport. She also prefers to make her personal training program as varied as possible. In addition to strength training with free weights, she loves to get a good workout with indoor cycling.