Worried about coronavirus complications? Exercise could help protect you, study finds
Social media is full of self-workout videos as people work to stay fit amid stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now a new study shows that exercise can actually help you prevent deadly complications from COVID-19.
Researchers from the University of Virginia discovered exercise produces a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a major complication caused by coronavirus, according to Study Finds, a website that compiles studies from top universities and journals. About 45% of patients who develop ARDS will die, according to a press release from the University of Virginia Health System.
Dr. Zhen Yan, the study’s lead researcher, found the antioxidant protects our muscle tissue and helps prevent disease generally, the release says. Decreases in this antioxidant are related to several diseases and have been associated with chronic conditions, according to the release.
Research has found that even one session of exercise increases the body’s production of the antioxidant, the release says.
“We cannot live in isolation forever,” Yan said. “Regular exercise has far more health benefits than we know. The protection against this severe respiratory disease condition is just one of the many examples.”
This research also indicates the antioxidant could be used as a treatment for several health conditions, including ARDS, according to the release. Additionally, research has also shown that people who exercise regularly can strengthen their immune system and lower their risk of infection, CNN reported.
Exercise has been shown to flush bacteria out of your lungs and reduce the body’s levels of cortisol and adrenaline, according to CNN. Lower levels of those stress hormones help to reduce the risk of illness, CNN reported.
Fitness experts recommend using resistance bands to help strengthen your muscles, CNN reports. They also recommend exercises like jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks and burpees in order to improve cardio-vascular health, according to CNN.