L9: Physical activity & Infection risk

Question 1

How many cases of influenza are seen globally along with total deaths?

Answer 1

5 million cases and around 500,000 deaths.

Question 2

What factors increase the risk of influenza?

Answer 2

1. Age
2. Social environments
3. Physical activity level
4. Socio-economic status

Question 3

Describe the curve of respiratory infection and exercise volume. Who identified the relationship?

Answer 3

Nieman 1994 identified an J-shaped curve between Exercise volume and risk of respiration illness. This refers to that Low total-volume exercise represents average risk and that moderate exercise reduces this risk below 1RR. Intense exercise increases the risk above 1RR.

Question 4

What level of exercise shows the greatest response in reducing symptoms of URTIs?

Answer 4

150 minutes moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes moderate/intense exercise is considered optimum.

Question 5

What else has be associated with respiratory illness?

Answer 5

Level of psychological stress (Cohen et al, 1991)