Physical Activity Blocks Colds

Physical Activity Blocks Colds: Being fit — or at least a perception of being fit — appears to be associated with a reduction in upper respiratory tract infections, researchers found. During a 12-week period, individuals who said they exercised at least five days a week had 43% fewer days with an upper respiratory tract infection than those who exercised no more than one day a week (P<0.05), according to David Nieman, DrPH, of Appalachian State University in Kannapolis, N.C., and colleagues. Similarly, those who rated themselves as highly fit had 46% fewer days with a respiratory infection than those who reported low fitness (P<0.05), the researchers reported online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.