Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review
Introduction and purpose: The common cold is a collection of illnesses caused by various pathogens. It has no definite treatment, therefore common cold prevention should be of utmost importance. Regular, moderate physical activity has been linked with lower incidence of common colds. The aim of t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kazimierz Wielki University
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/57899 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849773189297602560 |
|---|---|
| author | Adam Czarnecki Aleksandra Nosal Aleksandra Galanty-Ochyra Piotr Zając Jan Węgrzyn Łukasz Fijałkowski Karolina Serwońska Artur Pastuszka Olga Jabłońska |
| author_facet | Adam Czarnecki Aleksandra Nosal Aleksandra Galanty-Ochyra Piotr Zając Jan Węgrzyn Łukasz Fijałkowski Karolina Serwońska Artur Pastuszka Olga Jabłońska |
| author_sort | Adam Czarnecki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction and purpose:
The common cold is a collection of illnesses caused by various pathogens. It has no definite treatment, therefore common cold prevention should be of utmost importance. Regular, moderate physical activity has been linked with lower incidence of common colds. The aim of this review is to summarize all available knowledge on the influence of regular exercise on the incidence of common cold in human adults.
State of knowledge:
Randomized controlled trials and epidemiological studies suggest that subjects adhering to WHO’s guidelines for physical activity (MVPA), show significantly reduced susceptibility to common cold infection, and possibly, lower number of sick days compared to sedentary counterparts. There is insufficient data to determine a cause of this phenomenon, however prevailing theories include: increased mucosal immunity, increased NK-cells activity, and hormonal adaptations. High intensity and frequency of the exercise may cause transient suppression of the immune system and leaving an “open window” for opportunistic pathogens. Recent studies suggest that for optimal reduction of common cold infections, low intensity activity for over 358 min/week or moderate intensity activity for over 120 min/ week are recommended. This finding however requires reproduction and validation on more diverse populations.
Conclusions:
Exercise following the WHO MVPA guidelines reduces incidence of common cold and may reduce the number of sick days. High intensity exercise regimes may lead to temporary suppression of the immune system and increase risk of infection. The relationship between exercise duration, intensity and frequency on occurrence of common cold in adults is significant but requires further study to establish clear recommendations.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ee8d79be66d48f9866721b997cd1bda |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2391-8306 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Kazimierz Wielki University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ee8d79be66d48f9866721b997cd1bda2025-08-20T03:02:07ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-03-017910.12775/JEHS.2025.79.57899Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature reviewAdam Czarnecki0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8090-0171Aleksandra Nosal1https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3043-9494Aleksandra Galanty-Ochyra2https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2911-0201Piotr Zając3https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1516-8487Jan Węgrzyn4https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0548-408XŁukasz Fijałkowski5https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9088-7461Karolina Serwońska6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0958-9360Artur Pastuszka7https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6226-9861Olga Jabłońska8https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3829-64825 Szpital Wojskowy z Polikliniką SPZOZw Krakowie5 Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 Kraków5 Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 KrakówUpper Silesian Medical Center of Prof. Leszek Giec of the Silesian Medical University, Ziołowa 45-47, 40-635 Katowice – OchojecUpper Silesian Medical Center of Prof. Leszek Giec of the Silesian Medical University Ziołowa 45-47, 40-635 Katowice – Ochojec5 Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic SPZOZ, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 KrakówUpper Silesian Medical Center of Prof. Leszek Giec of the Silesian Medical University Ziołowa 45-47, 40-635 Katowice – OchojecSt. Elizabeth Hospital in Katowice, The American Heart of Poland Group Warszawska 52, 40-008 KatowiceIndependent Public Healthcare Institution of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Kraków, Kronikarza Galla 25, 30-053 Kraków Introduction and purpose: The common cold is a collection of illnesses caused by various pathogens. It has no definite treatment, therefore common cold prevention should be of utmost importance. Regular, moderate physical activity has been linked with lower incidence of common colds. The aim of this review is to summarize all available knowledge on the influence of regular exercise on the incidence of common cold in human adults. State of knowledge: Randomized controlled trials and epidemiological studies suggest that subjects adhering to WHO’s guidelines for physical activity (MVPA), show significantly reduced susceptibility to common cold infection, and possibly, lower number of sick days compared to sedentary counterparts. There is insufficient data to determine a cause of this phenomenon, however prevailing theories include: increased mucosal immunity, increased NK-cells activity, and hormonal adaptations. High intensity and frequency of the exercise may cause transient suppression of the immune system and leaving an “open window” for opportunistic pathogens. Recent studies suggest that for optimal reduction of common cold infections, low intensity activity for over 358 min/week or moderate intensity activity for over 120 min/ week are recommended. This finding however requires reproduction and validation on more diverse populations. Conclusions: Exercise following the WHO MVPA guidelines reduces incidence of common cold and may reduce the number of sick days. High intensity exercise regimes may lead to temporary suppression of the immune system and increase risk of infection. The relationship between exercise duration, intensity and frequency on occurrence of common cold in adults is significant but requires further study to establish clear recommendations. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/57899Common Cold / prevention & controlPhysical ActivityExercise / immunologyRespiratory Tract Infections / prevention & controlPhysical Fitness |
| spellingShingle | Adam Czarnecki Aleksandra Nosal Aleksandra Galanty-Ochyra Piotr Zając Jan Węgrzyn Łukasz Fijałkowski Karolina Serwońska Artur Pastuszka Olga Jabłońska Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review Journal of Education, Health and Sport Common Cold / prevention & control Physical Activity Exercise / immunology Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control Physical Fitness |
| title | Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review |
| title_full | Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review |
| title_fullStr | Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review |
| title_short | Preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold - a literature review |
| title_sort | preventive influence of regular physical exercise on the incidence of common cold a literature review |
| topic | Common Cold / prevention & control Physical Activity Exercise / immunology Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control Physical Fitness |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/57899 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adamczarnecki preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT aleksandranosal preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT aleksandragalantyochyra preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT piotrzajac preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT janwegrzyn preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT łukaszfijałkowski preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT karolinaserwonska preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT arturpastuszka preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview AT olgajabłonska preventiveinfluenceofregularphysicalexerciseontheincidenceofcommoncoldaliteraturereview |