It’s well known that moderate exercise helps keep the immune system healthy and responsive. But can it be detrimental to your immune system to exercise too much?
Exercise can have both positive and negative effects on your immune system. Risk of respiratory tract problems decreases with moderate exercise but increases significantly when you overdo it.
In fact, overdoing exercise actually reduces immune function. If you are a normal exerciser like you should be, then here’s a interesting conclusion.
In a recent study, researchers found that of three classes of people studied, elite athletes had the highest risk and incidence of respiratory illnesses, couch potatoes who did little or nothing had the second highest incidence of respiratory tract dysfunction, and recreational athletes and moderate exercisers came out the healthiest by far.
That study was done with humans. Nearly identical results showed up in a separate study using rats.
As seniors, we are in the “at risk” demographic for the current flu bug that has popped up around the world. So, it’s probably NOT a good idea to engage in overly vigorous exercise for a while. Why not? Re-read the above. Since respiratory dysfunction is a major problem with the current virus, the results of the above studies become particularly relevant.
But don’t stop moving your body. If you are exercising moderately, you should be in better shape than most. Just don’t wear yourself out.
After this virus settles down and we are back to normal, it will be wise for most seniors who are not exercising now, to start some sort of fitness program consisting of moderate exercise and good eating habits. As responsible seniors, we need to take special care of our immune system, as well as taking overall responsibility for our own health and well-being.
We will want to make sure that when another new “flu” hits us, our immune response will be in the healthy range, and not a part of the risk factor that faces us now.
None of the above is medical advice. If you need medical advice, go to a medical professional.
Thank you for reading and please stay vigilant.