New Research Highlights a Novel Way to Fight Colds

When researchers in the United Kingdom followed over 1,000 people during the fall and winter seasons of 2008 looking for clues as to why some people get sick more often than others, a surprising result was found. People who are physically fit and stay active during the winter months actually get fewer colds, and when they do get sick, the cold is less severe, up to 41% less severe.



While exercise is a "stress" on the body, exercise physiologists consider it a "good stress" because it forces positive changes on the body including a temporary rise in the immune system. While the rise in the immune system stays around for only several hours, if a person is exercising multiple times per week, the result is a significantly increased amount of time throughout the week with a stronger immune system to fight off potential invading bacteria and viruses.



In the research study that is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the participants aged 18 to 85 submitted a detailed questionnaire throughout the study period on how often and how strenuous their exercise programs were through the fall and winter months. The participants also provided information on their diets, any lifestyle changes, and stressful events, all of which affect the immune system.



In the research findings the colder the weather became, the more likely everyone was to catch a cold, but the severity of that cold fell by 41% in the most physically active in the research group, and 31% among the generally physically active compared to non-active individuals.



According to the United States Center for Disease Control, adults can expect to have two to four colds per year with children having as many as ten. They United Kingdom researchers also mention that while exercise can help prevent colds because of its immune boosting abilities and now there is evidence that it reduces severity of the cold; lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and stress are associated with a poor immune system and worse symptoms during the Holiday Season.



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