We often hear that in order to look after our health and wellbeing, we need to exercise and eat right. Naturally in this current climate, our client’s are asking us, can exercise actually impact my risk of developing COVID-19?
It turns out that the answer to this question is yes!
The latest research (published May 2020) looking into this very question strongly supports the notion that exercise can prevent the risk, or at least reduce the severity, of developing ‘acute respiratory distress syndrome’. The science behind this is complicated, so Amanda has tried to sum this up for us.
When we hear that someone with COVID-19 is in hospital with a ventilator, or has sadly passed from COVID-19, it is likely that they have experienced ‘acute respiratory distress syndrome’. The good news is that exercise causes our skeletal muscle to produce increased levels of an anti-oxidant called ‘extracellular superoxide dismutase’. This anti-oxidant acts like a superhero, circulating around our body fighting free radicals, protecting our tissues and preventing disease, and is thought to reduce our vulnerability to developing ‘acute respiratory distress syndrome’.
So the verdict is in – make some time to start walking, running or climbing stairs today!
Alternatively, get in touch to see how our exercise physiologists can help you!
For those who love the hard science, you can review this latest research via this hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2020.101508
Written by Amanda Semaan
Co-Director of Active Ability