# Working out and the Common Cold

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-out-and-the-common-cold/691048>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-out-and-the-common-cold/691048 "2014-06-18T12:17:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-out-and-the-common-cold/691048/1 "2014-06-18T12:17:38Z")

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When suffering with what might be considered a common cold, does working out help, hurt or is it of no consequence?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-out-and-the-common-cold/691048/2 "2014-06-18T12:29:07Z")

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Mild head cold, yes. A very mild workout.  
A chest cold, no. Rest.

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**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-out-and-the-common-cold/691048/3 "2014-06-18T16:58:17Z")

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The rule I always heard was - sick from the neck up? Go ahead (it actually helps with congestion), neck down? STOP!

Also, if you have a fever, your body is fighting something, let it work on that.