Chest infections are normally accompanied by wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest and coughing. Infections such as bronchitis, upper respiratory infection and tuberculosis cause difficulty when attempting exercise. Although resting during a chest infection may be your best recourse, according to MayoClinic.com, if you must exercise, do so with extreme caution.
Exercise
Vigorous exercise such as aerobics and running are not the best when dealing with a chest infection. As your heart rate increases, you breathe heavier. With a chest infection, you cannot take in enough air to comfortably perform these exercises, causing you to cough or wheeze as your chest tightens. For this reason, start your daily exercise at a slower pace to improve your lung capacity. Walk shorter distances for a couple of days, gradually increasing the time and distance each day. This will help reduce the risk of uncomfortable symptoms caused by excess exercise during your illness.
Risks
Due to infection, you may be more susceptible to dehydration. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day will keep you hydrated while sports drinks will help replace electrolytes lost during physical activity. Dizziness and fatigue are also risk factors of exercise with a chest infection. Mostly caused by your inability to breathe deeply, these conditions can become very serious. If you experience dizziness or fatigue during exercise, immediately stop what you are doing and rest. Medical attention may be required if you do not experience relief after 10 to 15 minutes of continuous rest.
Medical Attention
Chest infections pose dangerous risks when left untreated. Some infections require physical therapy to increase lung capacity through breathing exercises. Diagnosis of chest infection yields a higher healing rate when diagnosed early into the illness. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to clear your airways as well as antibiotics to rid you of the infection. As you are recovering, remember to take all medications as prescribed and follow doctor instruction closely. In some cases you may be asked to stop physical activity until you are fully recovered.
Warning Signs
There are signs that you have pushed yourself too hard during exercise with a chest infection. For example, if you get progressively weak during your exercise routine, stop and consult your doctor before resuming regular activity. Other warning signs that something else may be wrong or that you are pushing too hard include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, headache and rapid heart rate.
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