Running with a bad cough= bad idea...

hate to say it, but not likely you'll get a good diagnosis over the interwebs like this.  Best to see a doctor, of course.

general rule of thumb is if your cold/illness is above the neck, you're okay to work out; if below (e.g. lungs), best not to. 

+1 to what he said. 

I've got a sinus / cough / upper respiratory tract condition at the moment.  I've raced and trained (suffered) through similar before.  My cough gets REALLY aggrivated if I breath in lots of dry air.  I have noticed if I chew sour gum or run/ride with a camelbak or other hydrating system I do fine. 

X2

I got a bad case of something a couple years ago. Don't remember what they called it, but I had to get some seriously strong cough medicine with codeine just to be able to sleep for 15 minutes.  Ever since, I get really nervous whenever I catch a cold, because I seem to be more likely to have a lingering cough.

Like the cold would be gone in 2 days, but the cough would linger for 2 weeks.

My last bout with an annoying cough like that was before I started the tri training, but I can relate it anyway.  I played a LOT of ITG/DDR at the arcade.  I was never that great at it, but I'd play enough to work up a good sweat.  After one of those colds, I learned I better go at least a week after before I even TRIED to play normally again.  Didn't take much to set off the cough.

Take it really easy for days after that cough or you might just trigger it again.  YMMV, but if I got sick like that again I'd be watching my breathing rate/HR real close. I wouldn't stop working out, but I wouldn't push at all for another week.

Maybe hit the weights and take a break from cardio?

-eric

Yeah, not a good idea....I have fought an asthma flare up with asthmatic bronchitis for the past 10 days.  Running right now feels like I have a sumo wrestler climbing on my back for a piggy back.

If I make it through the run I feel like I'm going to die a few hours later. 

DON'T RUN.....Don't swim either.....it makes for some horrible breathing......bike if yo ucan keep your speed controlled and breathe okay but SEE THE DOC.

-6

Rest if you're sick and feel bad regardless of where it is. 

Not challenging at all but why?

I've always been on the fence about this. Sometimes I feel like a short workout where I break a little sweat helps me feel better faster but only if it's not a chest cold. That being said I normally don't workout at all while I'm sick. I just don't feel up for it.

Hope you are feeling better soon.  I would definitely rest and take it easy for awhile.  It sounds like what happens when my asthma flares up a lot.

Heck, I'll challenge him.  I watched all of the first year of 'ER' and my third cousin is a Doc so I know of what I speak.  Exercise is fine with a cold above the neck, but not in the chest. That's what my PCP told me. Just make sure I rest more, and really focus on how I feel. No exercise with the flu/fevers.  And by the way she went to the best med school in Grenada so she's smart too.

We've had some pretty detailed talks around my exercise routine and this was one she was OK with. Generally she's trying to slow me down.

Edited by blairrob 2010-05-28 8:30 PM

Because you're better off using your body's resources to heal up.  Above the neck, below the knee, around the back.....it all requires your immune system to function optimally.  None of these rules of thumb are based on anything other than anecdote which isn't really evidence at all.

I don't mean that you can't do a light workout if you're not all that sick, but if you're feeling bad and not wanting to workout, there's a reason for that, and you should listen to your body instead of pushing through it. 

x2 

And this is a general statement, rather than speaking to the OP's situation.

A hard workout (e.g. your long run) is clearly a bad idea because you're going to deprive your body of energy it needs to heal, recover, fight off the cold.

But a light aerobic workout, can get your blood flowing, and probably boost your immune system a bit. 

2 cents.