MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Changing gears now, this is the height of cold and flu season. So what do you do if you're feeling under the weather, but you still want to exercise? For the answers, we turn to CNN's Holly Firfer in today's segment of Feeling Fit.</s>HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The snow, the ice, the freezing temperatures all mean one thing -- cold and flu season is in high gear. But doctors say if you get sick you can still exercise if you take it easy.</s>DR. JOHN XEROGEANES: Just remember that you actually lower your defenses and you fatigue faster after you've been sick.</s>FIRFER: If you have a head cold, doctors give a green light to easy exercise. But if you have a chest cold or a temperature over 101, put it in park.</s>XEROGEANES: If you do have a chest cold, I mean theoretically they worry about you, or people worry about you developing endocarditis (ph), a serious infection around your heart. If you have a temperature, you decrease your body's natural ability to fight off viral illness.</s>FIRFER: Be sure to drink plenty of fluids if you do exercise to prevent dehydration. Doctors add drinking a lot of liquids will make you feel better even if you're not exercising. And be sure to read the labels on any medications you take. Many cold and flu remedies contain stimulants which, coupled with physical exertion, may put too much stress on the heart. For "Feeling Fit," I'm Holly Firfer.
Exercise May Help Fight Colds and the Flu