Wedding Bells!
Dr Bob is getting spliced. The happy couple and a furry mutual friend enjoy the February sunshine on Winhill. He has since discovered that marriage is good for both well being and life expectancy (1), though if you are a feminist Independent reader you may believe that this is not so for women ( 2).
Although we don’t like to talk about road running here, I have to make an exception for a very good cause; Sarah (see above) is raising money running the Sheffield Half Marathon on the 27th April for the SSAFA, a charity that helps members of the forces and their families http://www.ssafa.org.uk/. If you wish to contribute you can do so online http://www.justgiving.com/sarahje.
Run out? Is it safe to run when ill?
Exercising when suffering from cold or flu has always been a thorny topic. Dr Bob has been reading a review of the evidence. (McGrew and Martinez in Evidence based Sports Medicine BMJ Books 2002)
Fever impairs performance, reducing muscle strength (Alluisi et al 1980) and increasing fluid loss. There is evidence that viral illnesses reduce aerobic capacity and produce mild transient asthma (Heir et al 1995). Muscle mass is also lost, a process that can take 5 times longer than the illness to replace. More alarmingly some viral infections that can cause heart inflammation may be indistinguishable from colds or flu and exercise then could carry a risk of heart injury or cardiac arrest (Ilbach et al 1989).
So should the flu ridden fell runner expect a tap on the shoulder from the grim reaper? You won’t be surprised to hear that no one knows for sure but that the risk is likely to be pretty small.In the absence of any good scientific evidence the “neck rule” would seem sensible. If your symptoms are limited to the neck and above (sore throat, congestion) it is safe to exercise, though don’t expect to win any medals, if they are below the neck (muscular pain, cough, fever) it is not (Primos 1996). Shortage of breath, palpitations and chest pain require urgent medical attention- for the grim reaper could be coming up behind!
After Dr Bob read the obituary of Phil Eastwood, the owner of the esteemed breakfast establishment in Padley, this photo emerged from the Dark Peak archives.
Frank Galbraith and a friend contemplate a long wait for their bacon and eggs. Summer 1900.