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Exercise - a powerful tool
Exercise - a powerful tool
Preventative medicine
Preventative medicine

Exercise - colds and flu

Definition:



Alternative Names: Flu and exercise; Colds and exercise

Information:

Question:

Can exercise help you avoid colds and flus?

Answer:

Yes. At least one study suggests that regular exercise can cut in half the number of days a person suffers from colds and the flu. Exercise stimulates the disease-fighting white blood cells in the body to move from the organs into the bloodstream. Overall, you can improve your immune system by eating a proper diet, getting sufficient rest, reducing stress, and exercising regularly. This will decrease your chances of getting a cold or the flu.




Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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