Numbers on a scale aren’t all that enticing to think about in terms of getting or staying healthy. For some, neither is the prospect of working up a sweat in a long, arduous workout at the gym. But what if you knew that moderate exercise, instead of intense exercise, plays a part in reducing the likelihood and/or severity of respiratory tract viral infections?
An article on the National Institutes of Health website examined how intensities of exercise regimens correlated to fighting off viral illness. The article discussed two interesting findings:
1. Intense exercise over prolonged periods caused immunosuppression.
2. Moderate intensity exercise over the same time span improved immune functions.
What this means is that leading up to and during the seasons of higher viral illnesses, we may benefit from making adjustments to our exercise routines in an effort to give our bodies every advantage to fight off illness. In past years, we equated this with the flu, and now we consider that it could be true that exercise may help concerns surrounding COVID-19 as well. We don’t know for sure, but any advantage to staying healthy is worth some consideration. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If you need care, our urgent cares are here to help! Our urgent care centers are open every day of the week 8:00 am to 8:00 pm- No appointment necessary! We offer flu shots, flu tests, as well as COVID-19 testing. To be seen by a provider, simply walk in, or save your spot online by clicking here! For information on E-registration to save time click here. Telemedicine options are available here. We look forward to helping you Get Better. Faster!
