Cardio exercise may help reduce risk of death from flu or pneumonia: study

Research shows that people who indulge in brisk walking, swimming, running and stair climbing may have a significantly lower risk of death from the flu or pneumonia, even at lower than recommended weekly levels. However, findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that there may be a level above which the effects plateau or – in the case of muscle-strengthening activities – become potentially harmful.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination, as well as moderate or vigorous intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least twice a week It is recommended. Muscle-strengthening activities include the use of weights and resistance bands; exercises such as squats, lunges and press-ups (calisthenics); and heavy gardening.

In the study, people who met both recommended weekly physical activity goals had nearly half (48 percent) the risk of dying from the flu or pneumonia as their peers who didn’t, after accounting for potentially influential factors.

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Meeting only the aerobic activity goal was associated with a 36 percent lower risk after accounting for potentially influential factors, whereas meeting only the muscle-strengthening goal was not associated with any significant difference in risk.

Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest, “Although (10-150 minutes/week) is often labeled ‘inadequate’ because it is less than the recommended duration, it is associated with increased health relative to physical inactivity.” may provide benefits.”

The team gathered responses from 577,909 adults who took part in a national survey between 1998 and 2018. During an average monitoring period of nine years, 81,431 participants died; Of these, 1,516 deaths were due to flu and pneumonia.

Those who did 10–149, 150–300, and 301–600 minutes/week of aerobic physical activity were associated with a 21 percent, 41 percent, and 50 percent lower risk, respectively, compared to none. But no additional benefits were seen above 600 weekly minutes.

When it came to muscle-strengthening activities, meeting a weekly goal of two was associated with a 47 percent lower risk, but seven or more sessions was associated with a 41 percent higher risk, compared with two weekly sessions.

This is an observational study, and as such, cannot establish causation, with the researchers acknowledging various limitations. For example, the study relied on personal recollection at one point in time.

Nevertheless, the researchers noted, “Efforts to reduce influenza and pneumonia mortality among adults should focus on reducing the prevalence of aerobic inactivity and increasing the prevalence of achieving two episodes/week of muscle-strengthening activity.” Can.”