In a new study from the University of Toronto, researchers found that improving your heart and respiratory fitness level may help protect you from COVID-19.
The findings indicate that fit people have a reduced risk of dying from the disease.
In the study, the team examined a cohort of 2,690 adults from the UK Biobank Study and focused solely on the risk linked to death and the likelihood of catching the virus.
They found no strong association between level of fitness and risk of infection. The study did not examine disease severity which would include hospitalization.
The data range was limited to ages 49 to 80, but the sample was large enough to look at COVID-specific death.
The team found physical activity by percentile within ten-year age bands given the UK Biobank’s limited variables.
The lowest 20th percentile was categorized as low fitness; the 40th to 80th percentile was moderate, and above the 80th percentile was above average.
Researchers observed that even low-to-moderate exercise seems to make a difference.
They say that physical activity declines with age but if you’re fitter for people within your age group, you still can get a benefit.
A routine must include a cardio intense workout, one where you break a sweat or are breathing heavily, but you don’t need to be a marathon runner.
The greatest benefit is in moving from inactivity to some consistent amount of physical activity.
The World Health Organization recently doubled its recommended physical activity guideline.
If you care about COVID-19, please read studies about this depression drug may protect you from severe COVID-19 and findings of this common drug could cut COVID-19 death risk by nearly 50%.
For more information about COVID-19 and your health, please see recent studies about this common drug may reduce your risk of COVID-19 infection and results showing that new antiviral drug 10 times more effective against COVID-19.
The study is published in PLOS One. One author of the study is Rebecca Christensen.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
