Exercise During Fever Risks: Is it right or wrong to do exercise or workout during fever? Know from the doctor about the dangerous effects on the body

Many people who are conscious about fitness never want to miss their workout routine. Many times, despite having mild fever, body ache or cold, people go to the gym or start running in the misconception that ‘sweating will bring down the fever quickly’. However, according to medical science, sports medicine and physicians, this belief can prove to be completely wrong and fatal. Fever is not a normal physical condition, but it is a sign that your body is fighting a bacterial or viral infection. Exercising at such a sensitive time can cause serious damage to the internal organs instead of benefiting the body.

What effect does working out in fever have on the body?

When body temperature rises, our immune system is devoting all its energy to eliminating the infection. In such a situation, heavy exercise causes many dangerous changes in the body:

• Excessive pressure on the heart and risk of myocarditis: During fever, the body’s metabolism increases and the resting heart rate already increases. In such a situation, lifting heavy weights or doing cardio puts excessive stress on the heart muscles. In some viral infections, exercising can cause inflammation in the heart muscles i.e. ‘myocarditis’, which can prove fatal.

• Severe dehydration and heat stroke: In fever, excessive sweating occurs to control body temperature. Due to exercise, water and electrolytes are rapidly lost from the body, due to which the risk of sudden dizziness, fainting and heat exhaustion increases manifold.

• Weak immunity and prolonged illness: The body needs energy to repair the wear and tear of muscles. If the body gets tired due to workout, the immune system will weaken and the fever which could be cured in 2 days, can drag on for several weeks.

• Muscle Strains and Injuries: At the time of fever the muscles are already weak and prone to pain. In such a situation, poor coordination can lead to serious ligament tear or joint injury.

What does the doctors’ ‘Neck Rule’ say?

Sports doctors recommend following the ‘neck rule’ for exercising during illness:

• Symptoms above the neck: If you have only mild sneezing, blocked nose or mild headache and no body temperature (fever), you can do light walking, yoga or light stretching.

• Symptoms below the neck: Exercise is strictly prohibited if you have a fever of 100°F or higher, chest tightness, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, or joint and muscle pain throughout the body. At such times, only ‘bed rest’ should be done.

When to start working out after fever is cured?

• Workout should be started only after at least 48 to 72 hours after the fever completely subsides and the body temperature remains normal without taking any medicine.

• Instead of intense workouts in the first week of comeback, start with only light walks, slow cycling or yoga and gradually increase the intensity as per the body’s capacity.