14 May 2021, 1pm
Exercise can help the immune system, says a new report.
In a review of studies on the “Effects of Regular Physical Activity on the Immune System, Vaccination and Risk of Community‑Acquired Infectious Disease in the General Population”, published in Sports Medicine magazine (online version 21 April 2021), the authors concluded that:
Regularly engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity
i) is associated with a 31% risk reduction of community-acquired infectious disease.
ii) is associated with a 37% risk reduction in infectious disease mortality.
iii) is associated with increased strength of the mucosal immune barrier and higher concentration of immune cells that prepare, orchestrate, regulate and effect immunity.
iv) can strengthen the effect of vaccination campaigns.