When you are sick, like have a cold, is it bad to exercise?

Question

such as the treadmill or elliptical for 20 mins at the gym

Answer 1

Surprisingly, yeah it is bad for your body to exercise when you're sick because you can't catch your breath as well with all that mucus, etc. in your lungs and your heartbeat can get out of control.  So when you're sick you should just rest until your body tells you it's okay

Answer 2

Because exercise may help to boost immune function, it's usually safe to exercise with a cold.  

Still, if you exercise with a cold, it's important to listen to your body. Sometimes cold medications such as decongestants can increase your heart rate. In addition, your heart rate is increased with exercise. The combination of exercise and decongestants can cause your heart to pump very hard. You may become short of breath and have difficulty breathing.

If you have asthma and a cold, make sure you talk with your doctor before you exercise. If your asthma symptoms are worse with a cold, you'll need to use caution. Exercising with a cold and asthma may cause increased respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require you to use more asthma medications to open your airways. Overuse of asthma medications can also cause your heart rate to increase.

If you have a fever with a cold, exercise may stress your body even more. That's why it's important to wait a few days to get back to your regular exercise regimen. Working out too hard with a cold could stress your body, causing you to feel worse. This additional stress may hinder your recovery from your cold.

--Hope this helps you out!!

Kisses,

Nurse Pixie