MEMPHIS, Tenn. – We are just around the corner from the start of the flu season and doctors say if you want to avoid getting sick start moving.
Research shows daily workouts can help you ward off things like colds and the dreaded flu.
In one study of 1,000 adults, researchers found those who got in at least twenty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, five or more days a week got over a cold or the flu much faster and their symptoms were milder.
Dr. Jeff Mullins, with MidSouth Family Medicine, said when you exercise you are improving your blood flow and that kind of stress on the body also enhances the body’s ability to fight off infections.
“We also know that exercise significantly reduces someone’s perception of stress and when people feel less stress they tend to eat healthier, get more sleep and take better care of themselves,” said Mullins.
Dr. Mullins said the number one problem he treats in his practice is fatigue and one of the main causes of disease is an unhealthy lifestyle.
He recommends you start out slow and build your way up until exercise becomes a habit.
Always talk to your physician before starting a new exercise program.