Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Death From Flu or Pneumonia
Consistent exercise significantly reduces risks of death from the flu.
Flu season is a good time to remind clients of the value of consistent exercise. A recent study based on data from a nationally representative sample of US adults showed that if a person meets the minimum training guidelines for physical activity and muscle strengthening, they may reduce their risk of death by almost 50% when compared with people who do not meet any exercise guidelines. The exercise guidelines consist of either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic training, and two muscle strengthening sessions, per week.
Aerobic exercise at levels lower than the recommended amounts may still be linked with lower risks of influenza and pneumonia related deaths. For example, participants who did at least 10 minutes of aerobic activity, but less than 150 minutes a week and did not strength train reduced risks of death from the flu or pneumonia by 21% when compared with those who did no exercise. This finding suggests that very minimal amounts of aerobic activity is valuable to boost health during cold and flu season.
The research is reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2023; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106644).
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
