How exactly does physical exercise make our immune system stronger?
In: Biology
No one is exactly sure and you are only half true in your assumption: Extreme exertion will actually compromise your immune system, worse than being sedentary, but moderate exercise boosts your immune system.
This could be because liesurely exercise reduces stress, which hurts your immune system. Extreme exercise actually causes a stress response.
Blood flow and oxygen intake is improved during exercise which could help circulate your immune cells. With extreme exercise these are needed to deal with cell damage from the workout, but a leisurely workout won’t have as much.
You also raise your body temp, which is exactly what a fever does to try to kill some infections, but by exercising this happens before the illness gets a foothold, so in theory it’s more effective.
Then of course, in general being fit makes your whole body better at just about everything. Exercise maintains fitness.
Latest Answers