When Can You Exercise Again After the Flu? This Guide to Optimal Body Recovery
YOGYAKARTA - Flu may only last a few days, but the body's recovery after the flu often takes longer. Many people feel healthy after the fever subsides, then immediately return to exercising as usual. In fact, the body still needs time to recover energy and organ functions as a whole. Therefore, it is important to know when you can exercise again after the flu so that your body's recovery is optimal and you can return to activities safely.
According to Dr. Howard E. LeWine, Chief Medical Editor Harvard Health Publishing, Thursday, July 9, there is no really certain rule about when someone can return to exercise after the flu. The recovery time is influenced by the severity of the disease, age, health conditions, and fitness of each individual. If the flu is accompanied by fever, muscle pain, and the body feels very weak, it is best to wait until the fever is completely gone and the body condition is much better before starting to exercise again.
When starting a sport, don't rush back to your routine like before you were sick. You can choose light activities, such as walking, stretching, or leisurely cycling with a shorter duration. This way helps the body adapt again without giving too much burden. If after exercising the body feels very tired or breathing becomes heavier, you should stop exercising and give extra rest time.
Once the body starts to feel stronger, you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of the exercise. Dr. LeWine recommends an approach by starting low-intensity exercises first, then gradually increasing them according to the body's ability. This approach helps reduce the risk of the body working too hard when the recovery process is not completely complete.
For those of you who are used to exercising every day, there is no harm in reducing the frequency of exercise in the first week after recovery. Try exercising every other day so that the body has the opportunity to recover stamina optimally. Rest time between exercise sessions also helps reduce the risk of prolonged fatigue that can slow down recovery.
Another thing that is no less important is to pay attention to the condition of the heart. The influenza virus can cause temporary weakness in the muscles, including the heart muscle, so that heavy exercise should be postponed until the body is completely recovered. Although this condition does not always occur, giving enough recovery time is a wise step to reduce the pressure on the cardiovascular system.
During the recovery period, listen to every signal given by the body. Easy breathing, unusual heart palpitations, the body feels very tired, or flu symptoms reappear can be a sign that you are not ready to exercise at a higher intensity. If these complaints persist or are accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath, you should immediately consult a doctor.
When you can exercise again after the flu depends ultimately on the readiness of each body. By giving enough time for the body to recover after the flu, starting the exercise gradually, and not forcing yourself, you can return to enjoying sports without disturbing the healing process. These simple steps help the body recover optimally while reducing the risk of health problems after the flu.