We’ve been saying it all along. But now it’s good to have scientific proof that regular exercise makes us stronger to fight off viruses like Covid-19.
Doctors found that people who had been inactive before contracting the coronavirus were more likely to be hospitalized, require intensive care, and even die, according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Even though we kept hearing about aggravating factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, we didn’t hear a lot of urgings about getting regular exercise.
So this is welcome news – and one more reason you need to be working out with us on a regular basis.
This was a large study. Researchers looked at 48,000 adult Californians who contracted Covid-19 between January 2020 and October 2020.
Respondents were placed into three categories: those who were inactive entirely; those who got some activity but less than the recommended 150 minutes a week; and those who exceeded that minimum recommendation.
It was no surprise that the most active people had the best success against Covid-19. But even those who exercised less than the guidelines still had better results than those who had no regular activity leading up to the pandemic.
This does not mean exercise is a substitute for vaccination. It is further proof that being physically active improves our immune systems and keeps us healthier than our inactive friends.
And that’s good to know no matter what the future brings.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.