I can't remember the last time I called in sick. In fifteen years at the Baltimore Sun, I am sure I have used fewer than ten of my allotted sick days.
A study published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that my penchant for exercise may have a lot to do with me making it to work on a daily basis.
Dr. David Nieman, a professor in the College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University, says, "Exercise is probably the most powerful thing you can do to reduce your sick days this winter."
According to a news release from ASU, Nieman and his colleagues have spent more than 20 years studying the effects of exercise, diet, weight, gender and education levels on one's health. Regular exercise was shown to have the greatest influence.
A brisk walk for 30 to 45 minutes a day increases the number of immune system cells that circulate in the body, Nieman said. Although these levels decline within a few hours, each bout of exercise is likely to enhance surveillance of harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduce the number and severity of upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.