Should You Exercise While Sick?

Exercise helps to keep us in good health. Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week.

运动有助于保持我们的健康。美国心脏协会的医生建议每周至少进行150分钟的适度体育锻炼。

Many people have an exercise routine. They exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day. 

很多人都有锻炼的习惯。他们每天或每隔一天锻炼几分钟。

So, getting those 150 minutes is easier.

所以，这150分钟比较容易。

But what about those times when you are sick? If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise routine? 

但是你生病的时候呢？如果你感觉不舒服，你应该坚持你的锻炼吗？

Will physical activity help you to feel better more quickly or will it delay the healing process?

体力活动会帮助你更快地感觉好一点吗？还是会延缓愈合过程？

Health experts answer these and other questions on the Mayo Clinic website. The Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit medical center in the United States.

健康专家在梅奥诊所网站上回答这些和其他问题。梅奥诊所是美国的一个非营利医疗中心。

Edward R. Laskowski is a doctor at the clinic. He notes that "mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a common cold." Dr. Laskowski and other experts have a general rule of thumb about exercising when you are sick. 

爱德华拉斯科夫斯基是这家诊所的医生。他指出，“如果你得了普通感冒，轻度到中度的体力活动通常是可以的。”拉斯科夫斯基博士和其他专家对生病时的锻炼有一个一般的经验法则。

It is usually fine to exercise, he explains, if your symptoms are all "above the neck." These signs may include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or a minor sore throat.

他解释说，如果你的症状都在“颈部以上”，运动通常是可以的，这些症状可能包括流鼻涕、鼻塞、打喷嚏或轻微的喉咙痛。

In fact, Laskowski adds that exercise may make you feel better by "opening your nasal passages." This may temporarily reduce congestion and help you to breathe more easily.

事实上，拉斯科夫斯基补充说，通过“打开鼻腔”运动可以让你感觉更好，这可以暂时缓解充血，帮助你更容易地呼吸。

The American health website WebMD offers similar advice.

美国健康网站webmd也提供了类似的建议。

Geralyn Coopersmith is a physical fitness trainer who has written several books on exercise and nutrition. Coopersmith told WebMD: "The general rule is that if it is just a little sniffle and you take some medications and don't feel so sick, it's OK to work out."

Geralyn Coopersmith是一位体能教练，他写了几本关于运动和营养的书。库珀斯密斯告诉WebMD：“一般的规则是，如果只是有点鼻塞，你吃了一些药，感觉不太舒服，就可以锻炼。”

However, both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest taking a break from exercising if signs of your illness appear "below the neck." Be on guard for symptoms such as chest congestion, extreme cough or pain in the stomach.

然而，库珀史密斯和拉斯科夫斯基医生都建议，如果你的疾病症状出现在“颈部以下”时，可以暂停运动，提防出现胸闷、剧烈咳嗽或胃痛等症状。

But there are other symptoms that can tell you to avoid exercise. They include:

但还有其他症状可以告诉你避免运动。它们包括：

a higher than normal body temperature, 

高于正常体温

a sense of feeling extremely tired, also known as fatigue,

一种极度疲劳的感觉，也称为疲劳

widespread muscle pain

广泛的肌肉疼痛

Coopersmith, the WebMD expert, adds that if you feel tightness in the chest, "it is not advisable to be working out."

WebMD的专家库珀史密斯补充说，如果你感到胸闷，“锻炼是不可取的。”

Both she and Dr. Laskowski suggest listening to your body. If you feel really badly, take a break and let your body rest.

她和拉斯科夫斯基医生都建议听你的身体。如果你觉得很不舒服，休息一下，让你的身体休息一下。

If you don't feel too badly, these experts both suggest cutting back on the intensity of your exercise routine. For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead.

如果你感觉不太糟糕，这些专家都建议你减少锻炼的强度。例如，如果你经常跑步，那就去散散步吧。

Experts at the Mayo Clinic add that a "few days off from exercise when you are sick shouldn't affect your performance."

梅奥诊所的专家补充说，“生病时休息几天不应该影响你的表现。”

You can return to your usual intensity when you feel better. However, Dr. Laskowski warns that exercising when you have more than a common cold, could lead to "more-serious injury or illness."

当你感觉好一点的时候，你可以恢复到平常的强度。然而，拉斯科夫斯基博士警告说，当你感冒不止一次时，运动会导致“更严重的伤害或疾病”。