Exercise tied to reduced risks of dying from flu or pneumonia

Here's some motivation to keep exercising this fall and winter: Exercise, even just a little, is linked to significantly lower risk of death from flu or pneumonia, according to a study published online May 16, 2023, by the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Researchers evaluated the survey responses of more than 577,000 adults who reported their health and exercise habits and were followed for nine years. Compared with people who said they didn't meet the guidelines for weekly physical activity (150 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, plus two or more sessions of muscle strengthening), people who said they met both guidelines had a 48% lower risk of dying from flu or pneumonia during the study period. Even if participants reported doing only aerobic exercise, below recommended amounts, the risks of dying from flu or pneumonia were still 21% lower, compared with people who didn't exercise. The study was observational and doesn't prove that exercise prevents these deaths in people who get sick. But study authors say the link is plausible, since exercise is associated with strong immune systems and lower rates of heart disease and stroke (two risk factors for fatal complications of flu and pneumonia). So even if you aren't up to meeting exercise recommendations, remember that any activity that works your heart and lungs could have big payoffs for you this winter and all year through.

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