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VERIFY: Is it safe to exercise while sick?

Three sources - a local personal trainer, a UAMS physician and the Mayo Clinic - give us answers.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Believe it or not, there are die-hards who won't miss their workout under any circumstance. But is that safe?

Three sources - a local personal trainer, a UAMS physician and the Mayo Clinic - give us answers.

"Yea it's a great question, people text me that all the time, my clients are like, I don't feel well should I come in?" said Jessie Grobmyer, a personal trainer at Little Rock's Clubhaus Fitness.

Grobmyer's answer: listen to your body.

"If you have a fever, if you feel really terrible, severe respiratory, anything contagious, no you probably need the rest, if you're body's telling you to rest, you need to take the rest," she said.

UAMS pulmonologist Dr Nikhil Meena agrees, but did add that, if you have a mild cold, it's definitely ok to squeeze in a workout and could actually relieve nasal congestion.

"...You can definitely run a couple of miles and do lightweight training if you have a cold and that's it," said Dr. Meena.

The Mayo Clinic verifies that as well, saying "exercise is usually OK if your symptoms are all above the neck" and "dont exercise if you symptoms are below the neck, such as chest congestion, a hacking cough, or upset stomach."

Grobmyer and Dr. Meena also agree working out on the tail end of illness could actually speed up healing.

"There has been some benefit shown in doing lighter, light to moderate intensity exercise, like if you just have a mild head cold or are on the upswing of a head cold or something," said Grobmyer.

"...And when you're getting better, when the fever goes away, you're not coughing as much, you're not as short of breath, then gentle exercises can be started and then it would help you get better faster," said Dr. Meena.

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