To learn more about why this connection might be scientifically promising, ER and sports medicine specialist Mark Conroy, MD, looks at what happens in the body when you exercise and why it might benefit your immune system.
What are antibodies anyway?
Antibodies are disease-fighting agents produced by the body, says Dr. Conroy. Antibodies usually develop when the body comes into contact with a virus or pathogen (that is, when it gets sick with something). The immune system then creates the mechanism to kill those particles, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Enter the stage from the left: vaccines. Vaccines are valuable tools to promote the development of antibodies without get sick first. Think: Get test answers from a classmate (shot) and hide them up your sleeve during the test. vaccines give the immune system the opportunity to create antibodies so that when you finally come into contact with a pathogen, the hope is that your body is ready to tear it to shreds.
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Ok, but how does exercise affect the immune system?
Exercise has a significant effect on the immune system, says Dr. Conroy. Exercise, especially intense exercise, triggers a stress response in the body. Stress responses typically cause the immune system to respond in a number of ways, including the production of antibodies.
In addition, lymphatic fluid is the main way the immune system transports agents needed to fight disease. Lymph, unlike blood, does not have a unique muscle like the heart to pump it. Instead, the continued contraction of your musculoskeletal system promotes the flow of lymph, which, in turn, helps your body fight disease-causing pathogens. That’s a complicated way of saying that moving around can help your immune system get disease-fighting agents, debris, dead cells, debris to your organs that remove it from your system. That’s why going for a walk can help you get over a hangover: your movement can get things where they need to go faster.
In this study, participants who rode a stationary bike or walked briskly for 90 minutes after their COVID-19 or flu vaccination appointment produced more antibodies in the following four weeks than those who continued their daily routine afterward. of immunization. Those who exercised for 45 minutes did not have elevated levels of antibodies.
This study is a great introduction to exercise as an immune-boosting activity, says Dr. Conroy. “We know that exercise has many health benefits from cardiovascular benefits, blood sugar benefits, mental health improvements, and stress management powers,” says Dr. Conroy. “We also know that exercise can strengthen your immune system in a number of ways.” In this case, he says, more antibodies are better than no antibodies, and more antibody production is even better. The results bode well for further information and research.
It’s worth noting that the sample group here was small: just 78 people. So the results point to the need for more research on the subject, says Dr. Conroy. It’s the start of an exciting and necessary body of research to draw a firm line between exercise and vaccine efficacy. In the meantime, remember that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself against serious illness.
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