Maintaining leanness and a physically active lifestyle during adulthood reduces systemic inflammation,an underlying factor in multiple chronic diseases.The anti-inflammatory influence of near-daily physical activity in lowering C-reactive protein,total blood leukocytes,interleukin -6,and other inflammatory cytokines may play a key role in lowering risk of cardiovascular disease,certain types of cancer,type 2 diabetes,sarcopenia,and dementia.Moderate exercise training causes favorable perturbations in immunity and a reduction in incidence of upper respiratory tract infection(URTI).During each bout of moderate exercise,an enhanced recirculation of immunoglobulins,neutrophils,and natural killer cells occurs that persists for up to 3-h post-exercise.This exercise-induced surge in immune cells from the innate immune system is transient but improves overall surveillance against pathogens.As moderate exercise continues on a near-daily basis for 12—15 weeks,the number of symptoms days with URTI is decreased 25%—50%compared to randomized sedentary controls.Epidemiologic and animal studies support this inverse relationship between URTI risk and increased physical activity.
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