Summary
Research indicates that physical activity improves the effectiveness of the body’s immune system, even in the elderly.
“Being sedentary goes against evolution because humans are designed to be physically active”. Steve Harridge, King’s College London.
Reference
Walsh, F. (2018). How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining. London: BBC Health News, March 8th 2018.
This relates to:
Reference
Duggal, NA. Pollock, RD. Lazarus, NR. [et al] (2018). Major features of immunesenescence, including reduced thymic output, are ameliorated by high levels of physical activity in adulthood. Aging Cell. March 8th 2018. [Epub ahead of print].
Doubling the Amount of Walking in Hospital Reduces Length of Stay: a 70-day Challenge
Possibly of interest, a national campaign to get hospital patients up and dressed in their day clothes aims to promote faster recovery and discharge, by encouraging greater independence and activity. The “70-day challenge” hopes to save a million patient days from being spent in hospitals unnecessarily, over a 70 day period.
“A recent pilot gave patients back 91,728 days or 250 years’ worth of time across nine trusts in the East of England as result of getting patients up and dressed”.
Reference
Cummings, J. (2018). 70 days to end pyjama paralysis. [Online]: NHS England, March 5th 2018.
Exercise Appears to Slow Ageing Generally and Promotes Better Health
A quick review of the extent to which exercise can slow (or reverse) the ageing process.
“Physical activity is one of the cornerstones of a healthy life”.
Reference
Harridge, S. [and] Lazarus, N. (2019). Can exercise reverse the ageing process? London: BBC Health News, March 20th 2019.
