Even if it's just a minor cold, cancel that appointment to protect yourself and others. My friend Katie and I took a girls' trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, and among our most-anticipated activities that long weekend was a relaxing afternoon at the spa. Things didn't go as planned, however, when she came down with a bad cold a few days before β and when we showed up for our appointments at VH Spa at Hotel Valley Ho, the therapist took one look at Katie and advised her to cancel her treatment that day.
While disappointing at first, it brought to light something that neither Katie who's a nurse nor I had considered before β that getting a massage when you're sick is not a good idea, and medical experts confirmed it. The reason for this is twofold: You are not doing yourself, or your service provider, any favors. When it comes to the personal impact even if you're desperately seeking that mind-body connection , Dr. Heinert says getting a massage could potentially slow down the normal healing of your body.
When you're sick, your body is doing everything it can to fight the illness. Your immune system is complex and includes your major organs, your circulatory system, and your lymphatic system. When you have a massage, your body receives input by way of pressure, heat, and movement β and these things combined may hinder your body's ability to combat an infection, and move waste through your lymphatic channels and gut, says Dr.
Not to mention, it can be painful, as your body is often more sensitive to the touch when sick. Plus, lying face-down for an extended period of time can exacerbate any congestion you're feeling too, she adds. But what if you're on your way to recovery, as my friend Katie felt she was? Sadly, getting a massage is still out of the question, says Dr. You need to allow your body to fully recover before booking that appointment.
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The same is true if you're suffering from a viral infection. Most common upper respiratory viral infections run their course in a few days to two weeks, and many people feel better in that time and are likely not contagious anymore, says Dr.
