Have you ever noticed that people who are physically active just seem to be healthier all around the spectrum? They seem to have a glow about them, and don’t often seem to be weighed down by sicknesses as often as others. Maybe you are an avid exerciser, and you’ve noticed that you seem to be less prone to getting sick than your friends who don’t exercise?
Well, whether or not you noticed this, researchers have published a story in the British Journal of Sports Medicine where they have found people who are physically fit and active have fewer and milder colds than those who are not. The research was sparked as they tracked the respiratory health of 1,000 adults for 12 weeks, where it was concluded that being older, male, and married seemed to reduce the frequency of colds. However, upon further investigation, researchers found that they had over looked several signifcant factors, leading them to conclude that it was lifestyle factors that made the difference. The most important factors were perceived fitness and exercise levels.
Evidence has shown that at least 20 minutes per session, 5 or more days a week can significantly decrease the amount of sick days in the winter and fall cold seasons. In fact, the number of sick days decreases by a whopping 40 percent by exercising aerobically on most days of the week.
The average U.S. adult citizen typically comes down with a cold 2 to 4 times a year, while children catch between half a dozen and 10 colds a year. Caring for these colds costs an average of $40 billion dollars a year in U.S. economy.
So keep that in mind next time cold season comes around. By exercising and keeping physically fit, not only will you reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but you may have a reduced chance of coming down with a cold and missing out on all those days of work and play.