[ti:Should You Exercise While Sick?] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. [00:07.00]Exercise helps to keep us in good health. [00:11.88]Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting [00:15.77]at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. [00:22.88]Many people have an exercise routine. [00:26.20]They exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day. [00:31.40]So, getting those 150 minutes is easier. [00:37.12]But what about those times when you are sick? [00:40.80]If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise routine? [00:47.08]Will physical activity help you to feel better more quickly [00:51.61]or will it delay the healing process? [00:55.80]Health experts answer these and other questions on the Mayo Clinic website. [01:02.44]The Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit medical center in the United States. [01:09.04]Edward R. Laskowski is a doctor at the clinic. [01:13.96]He notes that "mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a common cold." [01:22.80]Dr. Laskowski and other experts have a general rule of thumb about exercising when you are sick. [01:31.64]It is usually fine to exercise, he explains, if your symptoms are all "above the neck." [01:39.64]These signs may include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or a minor sore throat. [01:48.20]In fact, Laskowski adds that exercise may make you feel better by "opening your nasal passages." [01:56.72]This may temporarily reduce congestion and help you to breathe more easily. [02:03.96]The American health website WebMD offers similar advice. [02:11.00]Geralyn Coopersmith is a physical fitness trainer [02:14.85]who has written several books on exercise and nutrition. [02:20.28]Coopersmith told WebMD: "The general rule is that if it is just a little sniffle [02:26.67]and you take some medications and don't feel so sick, it's OK to work out." [02:34.28]However, both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest taking a break from exercising [02:41.49]if signs of your illness appear "below the neck." [02:46.20]Be on guard for symptoms such as chest congestion, extreme cough or pain in the stomach. [02:55.20]But there are other symptoms that can tell you to avoid exercise. [03:00.71]They include: [03:02.12]a higher than normal body temperature, [03:05.04]a sense of feeling extremely tired, also known as fatigue, [03:11.53]and widespread muscle pain. [03:15.72]Coopersmith, the WebMD expert, adds that if you feel tightness in the chest, [03:21.56]"it is not advisable to be working out." [03:25.64]Both she and Dr. Laskowski suggest listening to your body. [03:31.52]If you feel really badly, take a break and let your body rest. [03:37.60]If you don't feel too badly, these experts both suggest [03:41.67]cutting back on the intensity of your exercise routine. [03:46.64]For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead. [03:52.52]Experts at the Mayo Clinic add that a "few days off from exercise [03:57.26]when you are sick shouldn't affect your performance." [04:01.28]You can return to your usual intensity when you feel better. [04:05.79]However, Dr. Laskowski warns that exercising when you have more than a common cold, [04:12.95]could lead to "more-serious injury or illness." [04:18.24]And that's the Health & Lifestyle Report. [04:20.84]I'm Anna Matteo. [04:22.12]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM