Exercise and respiratory tract viral infections

Abstract

Prolonged intense exercise causes immunosuppression, whereas moderate-intensity exercise improves immune function and potentially reduces risk and severity of respiratory viral infections. Here, based on available evidence, we present a model whereby moderate exercise-induced increases in stress hormones reduce excessive local inflammation and skew the immune response away from a TH1 and toward a TH2 phenotype, thus improving outcomes after respiratory viral infections. ©2009The Amercian College of Sports Medicine.

Publication Title

Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews

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