There are two reasons to stay home when ill. The first is to prevent the spread of
disease to others. This is
especially true if we work around those who are very young or very old. As much as your boss wants you at work,
if you infect five coworkers, it will make the situation exponentially worse. Your exercise buddies at the gym will
appreciate not being exposed as well.
Most viruses are infective within the first 4-5 days from the time that
symptoms occurred. If a fever is
present and has resolved, that is usually a good sign that the immune system
has the infection under control and the person is no longer infectious. Apart from Chicken Pox or Tuberculosis
which can be transmitted through airborne particles, most diseases require
contact with mucous. Good hand
washing is essential to prevent spread.
Make sure to avoid coughing in your hand. Use your elbow or an handkerchief.
The second reason to stay home is to allow your body the
rest that it needs to recover. A
high fever above 101.5 degrees, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and shortness of
breath are all signs that indicate a more severe illness. It is important to not only rest but
especially to stay well hydrated.
Dehydration makes muscles more likely to cramp and will slow the
recovery. A simple way to judge
hydration is to look at your urine.
If it is not a pale yellow, more water is needed. Going to the gym in this phase of
illness is likely to make it all worse.
Listen to your body. Give
it a chance to work its magic.
When the illness starts to turn for the better, increasing your activity
is good but it must be done gently.
A gentle fifteen minute walk on the treadmill will stimulate the flow of
blood and lymph, the circulation of which will speed recovery by delivering
your white blood cells where they need to go and flushing out the toxins that
are building up from the disease.
An hour of hard core spinning will deplete your energy stores,
exacerbate dehydration and likely trigger a relapse.
Illness always occurs at a bad time. There is never a convenient time to be
sick. Hopefully the suggestions
above will help guide you to a quick recovery as well as keeping those around
you free from disease as well.
Remember, the next time your body cries out, “Give it a rest!,” listen
up.
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