After illness: How long to wait before exercising? This is what doctors advise

Football professional Agyemang Diawusie died at the age of just 25. The Berlin native, who played for third division club Jahn Regensburg, died of sudden cardiac death. According to the club, the cardiac death was “presumably caused by a viral infection with suspected myocarditis.”

“It is not that rare that a viral infection also affects the heart,” explains Prof. Martin Halle, cardiologist and expert in preventive and rehabilitative sports medicine at the Technical University of Munich in an interview with BR. When you have a cold, viruses enter the bloodstream and could also reach the heart and cause inflammation.

Exercise after flu: Wait at least a week

When it comes to flu, Halle believes two factors are important: Firstly, under no circumstances should you do sports if you have a fever. And if you had a fever during the flu infection, the expert recommends taking a break for at least a week afterwards.

On the other hand, you should pay attention to limb and muscle pain. “You have to be particularly careful because the heart is also a muscle,” says Halle. For example, if viruses reach a thigh muscle, they could also find their way to the heart. The one week break afterwards is also a must. Then you should see whether you can get back on your feet properly and whether your pulse is regular. If not, you should get examined.

Take special care with sports after Corona

The same applies to the time after a corona infection. Prof. Halle from the Technical University of Munich urges special caution when it comes to Covid: “We have observed in the last two years that these corona viruses affect the heart muscle more than we know from other viruses.”

This has also affected athletes. Ice hockey professional Jere Laaksonen suffered inflammation of the heart muscle after a corona infection in 2020 – when he was working for EV Landshut. He then had to take a break for several months.

Exercise after gastrointestinal illness

According to Halle, it is important to pay particular attention to fluid balance. On the other hand, there are also viruses that “also cause muscle problems and fatigue.” Then this virus could be an expression of the fact that the heart muscle is also involved. Diarrhea is one of the illnesses where you need to be particularly careful.

Exercise is usually not a problem when you have a cold

But if it’s just a mild variant of a cold, Halle gives the all-clear. If you feel fit, exercise is not dangerous. “I would give free travel for cycling or running.” But: You should listen to yourself and not overdo it with the intensity.

“If I’m feeling weak and weak the next day, then it’s better to take a day or two off.” Only then should you start normal training again.

Recognize symptoms, avoid dangers

According to Halle, you can see that people who have an infection or are under too much stress have their pulse values ​​five to ten higher than normal. “You can see that the cardiovascular system is already under strain.” If you are definitely unsure, you can check your heart rate when you get back into sport – and take it slowly at first.

The expert explains that inflammation of the heart muscle would not be noticeable because the muscle does not cause pain. However, you can watch out for cardiac arrhythmias: that the pulse is irregular or that the heart ‘stumbles’.

Another point: “If you experience shortness of breath when you are exposed to stress that you are used to.” You then realize that the heart no longer works as well in this situation. “That would be a second symptom of myocarditis,” says Prof. Halle.

“If in doubt, go to the doctor”

The expert from the Technical University of Munich also gives the classic medical advice: “If in doubt, go to the doctor.” By analyzing blood values ​​or an ECG, you can determine whether there is inflammation of the myocardium. Ultrasound can also check the pumping performance of the heart. An MRI or even a biopsy of the heart are also possible.

What to do if myocarditis occurs?

If you do suffer from myocarditis, you will need a longer break. “In over 95 percent of people, the inflammation heals without any consequences,” explains Prof. Stefan Sack, cardiologist at the Munich Clinic Neuperlach. Physical protection is important: “You should avoid heavy physical activity or sporting activities. The rest period is between three and six months.”