Page 68 - LVG&L Magazine Summer 2020

HEALTH & FITNESS

“THOSE WHO DID

AEROBIC EXERCISE

FIVE OR MORE

DAYS OF THE WEEK

LOWERED THE

NUMBER OF UPPER

RESPIRATORY TRACT

INFECTIONS OVER A

12-WEEK PERIOD BY

MORE THAN 40%.”

—DR. DAVID NIEMAN, HEALTH.COM

David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM

“The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about inflammation. And inflammation was part of the main
how fitness and good health and wellness can build immu- issue of the coronavirus illness.
nity, is that the more active an individual is, the stronger According to Health.com, the study looked at “acute exer-
their immune system can be,” says Red Rock Country cise,” meaning that of moderate to vigorous intensity
Club Lauren Gerrish, ISSA certified fitness trainer and lasting less than an hour in addition to examining walk-
Professional Dancer. “The body’s immune system is more ing. The study’s author, David Nieman, is a professor in the
apt to fend off negative health events with a regular fit- department of biology at Appalachian State University and
ness regimen, balanced diet, and proper rest. Maintaining director of the university's Human Performance Laboratory.
a healthy lifestyle is the best step one can take towards nat-
urally keeping the immune system healthy and strong.” “Those who did aerobic exercise five or more days of the
week lowered the number of upper respiratory tract infec-
While it doesn’t grab the headlines like shelter-in-place, tions over a 12-week period by more than 40%.”—Dr. David
social distancing, washing hands, and other advice, organ- Nieman, Health.com.
izations like the Center for Disease Control and the World
Health Organization encourage regular exercise for good Nieman says that because exercise increases blood and
reason. A 2019 scientific review in the Journal of Sport lymph flow as your muscles contract, it also increases the
and Health Science found that exercise can improve circulation of immune cells, making them roam the body
your immune response, lower illness risk, and reduce at a higher rate and at higher numbers. Specifically, routine

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