According to the most recent recommendations from the American College of Cardiology, adults can safely resume exercise after recovering from a COVID infection but should do so gradually. Walking is an excellent place to start, and then you can work your way up to running and cycling.
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, is one of the complications that can arise from exercising soon after a COVID infection. You should return to work or school once you've discussed your condition with your doctor, even if you feel fine.
Moderate or mild activity is acceptable for those without symptoms. However, exercising at a greater intensity may aggravate your condition.Do not engage in physical activity if you are experiencing signs of COVID, such as chest discomfort or shortness of breath. You should also stop exercising if you feel faint, dizzy, or like your heart rate changes.
People with preexisting conditions like heart or lung disease should consult a physician before beginning an exercise routine. Those diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that may be deadly, should also rest until given the all-clear by their doctor.
Those experiencing only mild manifestations of COVID should not engage in strenuous physical activity and should instead stick to brisk walking or other moderate exercises. Experts agree that escalating the intensity further will only worsen their symptoms and possibly expose them to greater infection risk.
Mild cases of COVID may usually be treated with rest, and 7–14 days later, activity can be resumed without risk. To get back to your pre-illness fitness level, experts advise starting with half of your regular workout routine and increasing your activity level every three days.
Experts agree that people with more severe COVID should wait to resume exercise until they receive medical clearance. Because their lungs are more damaged than those of persons with colds and flu, they may also wish to restrict their activity.
Long-term COVID sufferers are a different story, says Peter Putrino, MD, director of the University of California, San Francisco, COVID Center. After 12 weeks, he sees improvement in roughly 20% to 30% of these individuals.
But the unluckiest 10% to 20% of long-term COVID patients won't make any changes. That's because these people are dealing with autonomic dysfunction – their heart and breathing systems aren't working correctly. They are always exhausted and dizzy, and they have trouble breathing.
There are several ways to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and its serious complications. Vaccinations and regular exercise are two examples. The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week for healthy adults. Physical activity can help improve your mental health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and increase your bone density.
But the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted lockdown restrictions that have dramatically decreased people's physical activity. Leaders in public health should take the more excellent initiative to solve this issue.
However, exercise protects against COVID-19, independent of age or health status. Researchers found that people who ate a healthy diet and did 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week were at lower risk for severe outcomes from the COVID-19 virus.
Regular exercise appears to significantly reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and may protect you from severe complications, like hospitalization and death, when you get the virus. In a new study, researchers found that even people whose age or other health conditions make them at higher risk for the virus have better outcomes when physically active.
However, it's important to remember that you should be careful about what and how much exercise you do during a COVID-19 infection. The toll that the virus takes on the body's immune system makes it more difficult for people with a mild illness to return to their average activity level, and experts say it's best to take the time to rest and recover before exercising again.
For those who have long-term symptoms, such as chronic fatigue or heart palpitations, it's essential not to exercise while they're sick. They should only resume physical activity after they're symptom-free and stick to exercises that are safe for them, such as walking and swimming.