Exercise and fighting off colds/the immune system

Another interesting article from the health section of the NY Times. I've seen other research making a link between exercise and a better immune system and here's more.

Working out could help us fight off colds and other infections, according to a timely new study. The study, which found that regular exercise strengthens the body’s immune system in part by repeatedly stressing it, was conducted in animals. But the results most likely apply to people, the researchers say, and could offer further incentive for us to remain physically active this winter.

...the workouts caused small amounts of continuous tissue damage and inflammation. This process, the researchers said, seems to have familiarized the animals’ bodies with trauma and how best to initiate healing.

The swimmers, in effect, appeared to have developed a more refined and effective immune response. Their immune systems appear to have learned to produce a beneficial amount of inflammation, but not too much. So when germs invaded, the system could rely less on indiscriminate, blunt-force inflammation and instead turn to targeted, antimicrobial killers.

Of course, as we all know, rodents are not people.

But Dr. Park believes that the effects are likely to be similar in people. “We strongly believe that long-term, regular exercise can considerably improve the immune defense mechanism,” he said, including, thankfully, “against viral infections such as colds and the flu.”

Comments

[Sweat]

Rodents are not people?!? WHAT? I'm sorry. I just can't believe it. I've been watching folks like the Clintons, the Bushs, Obama, Pelosi, John Boehner & all the other dysfunctional leaders of this country for far too long to be fooled by that statement!

- the Grand Marshal of Geysers...........