Exercise May Be A Helpful Defense Against Severe COVID-19

"Since exercise increases the circulation of our immune cells, exercise may also 
boost the body’s immune response to a vaccine. Studies have shown that when people 
exercise around the time they receive a flu shot, for example, their bodies create 
a stronger immune response."

https://www.henryford.com/blog/2021/05/exercise-may-be-helpful-defense-against-severe-covid


"Posted on May 20, 2021 by Henry Ford Health System Staff

Yet another reason to get your body moving? Research shows that those who exercise 
regularly may be less likely to have a severe COVID-19 infection.

“Exercise has so many benefits for our health, from keeping our heart strong and 
controlling blood pressure to boosting our mood, preventing the onset of diabetes 
and even strengthening our immune system to protect us from sickness,” says Ramsey 
Shehab, M.D., a sports medicine specialist with Henry Ford Health System. “Studies 
show that athletes don’t get as many colds as other people, which could be because 
increased exercise causes their bodies to keep producing immune cells. Since 
regular exercise can help strengthen the immune system, it seems likely that it 
could also help protect from a severe or life-threatening case of COVID-19.”

Consistent Exercise Is Key

The recently published study revealed that people who spend less than 10 minutes a 
week exercising were more likely to be admitted into the ICU for COVID-19 than 
people who spend at least 150 minutes working out per week.

“This means that in order to reap the benefits, you have to be routine about 
exercising,” says Dr. Shehab. “That amounts to about 20 minutes per day of 
moderate exercise, which could include walking, running, biking, hiking—whatever 
you enjoy. And if you can do more than 20 minutes per day, that’s even better.”

But there’s a catch: getting more than 300 minutes of exercise per week may 
actually decreased your immune response, so don’t go overboard.

Another Immune-Boosting Bonus of Exercise

Since exercise increases the circulation of our immune cells, exercise may also 
boost the body’s immune response to a vaccine. Studies have shown that when people 
exercise around the time they receive a flu shot, for example, their bodies create 
a stronger immune response. So if you haven’t gotten your COVID-19 vaccine yet, it 
can’t hurt to get your heart pumping before you do.

And, last but not least? Exercise and a healthy diet go hand and hand, so it’s 
always a good idea load up on plenty of fruits and vegetables, get enough sleep 
and drink plenty of water."