How Does Exercise Improve the Immune System?

A healthy immune system is essential to good health. Not only is exercise important for staying in shape, it can also help to improve your immune system, helping you to avoid many of the most common illnesses.

Types of Exercise

Any exercise, as long as it is performed regularly, can help to improve the immune system. Popular choices include brisk walking, biking and fitness classes. For the best results, exercise five times a week for at least 20 minutes at a time.

How it Works

Exercise gets the blood moving quicker through the body, which also moves antibodies through the body faster than normal. This exposes potential threats to the immune system much faster, allowing the antibodies to remove them before the bacteria or viruses can become an illness.

Significance

Many health conditions, such as HIV and fibromyalgia, can cause a weakened immune response. Individuals with weakened immune systems can significantly improve their immune system by getting regular exercise instead of only relying on immunity-improving medications.

History

The use of exercise to improve the immune system isn't new; it has been used for centuries in China and India. Yoga, tai chi, and qigong were all developed as a way to decrease a person's susceptibility to disease.

Warning

Too much intense exercise, over 90 minutes a day, can diminish the immune system for up to three days. This happens because the body is exhausted after the intense workout and does not have the ability to fight infections as well as it normally can.

References

• Exercise Boosts Immune System
• Diet, Exercise, Stress and the Immune System