scholarly journals A Possible Preventive Role of Physically Active Lifestyle during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic; Might Regular Cold-Water Swimming and Exercise Reduce the Symptom Severity of COVID-19?

Author(s):  
Viktor Bielik ◽  
Marian Grendar ◽  
Martin Kolisek

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and course of COVID-19 and the risk of an upper respiratory tract infection in a group of people with physically active lifestyles. Data were collected anonymously using an online survey platform during December 2020. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 65 years. Out of 2343 participants, 11.5% overcame COVID-19 infection. Relative to the control group (CTRL), physically active, cold-water swimmers (PACW) did not exhibit a lower risk of incidence for COVID-19 (RR 1.074, CI 95% (0.710–1.625). However, PACW had a higher chance of having an asymptomatic course of COVID-19 (RR 2.321, CI 95% (0.836–6.442); p < 0.05) and a higher chance of only having an acute respiratory infection once or less per year than CTRL (RR 1.923, CI 95% (1.1641–2.253); p < 0.01). Furthermore, PACW exhibited a lower incidence of acute respiratory infection occurring more than twice per year (RR 0.258, CI 95% (0.138–0.483); p < 0.01). Cold-water swimming and physical activity may not lessen the risk of COVID-19 in recreational athletes. However, a physically active lifestyle might have a positive effect on the rate of incidence of acute respiratory infection and on the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-480. ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Schreiner ◽  
Irene O'Hara ◽  
Dorothea A. Markakis ◽  
George D. Politis

Background Laryngospasm is the most frequently reported respiratory complication associated with upper respiratory infection and general anesthesia in retrospective studies, but prospective studies have failed to demonstrate any increase in risk. Methods A case-control study was performed to examine whether children with laryngospasm were more likely to have an upper respiratory infection on the day of surgery. The parents of all patients (N = 15,183) who were admitted through the day surgery unit were asked if their child had an active or recent (within 2 weeks of surgery) upper respiratory infection and were questioned about specific signs and symptoms to determine if the child met Tait and Knight's definition of an upper respiratory infection. Control subjects were randomly selected from patients whose surgery had occurred within 1 day of the laryngospasm event. Results Patients who developed laryngospasm (N = 123) were 2.05 times (95% confidence interval 1.21-3.45) more likely to have an active upper respiratory infection as defined by their parents than the 492 patients in the control group (P &lt; or = 0.01). The development of laryngospasm was not related to Tait and Knight's definition for an upper respiratory infection or to recent upper respiratory infection. Children with laryngospasm were more likely to be younger (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.87-0.99), to be scheduled for airway surgery (odds ratio = 2.08, 95% confidence interval 1.21-3.59), and to have their anesthesia supervised by a less experienced anesthesiologist (odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.7) than children in the control group. Conclusion Laryngospasm was more likely to occur in children with an active upper respiratory infection, children who were younger, children who were undergoing airway surgery, and children whose anesthesia were supervised by less experienced anesthesiologists. Understanding the risk factors and the magnitude of the likely risk should help clinicians make the decision as to whether to anesthetize children with upper respiratory infection.


Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuba Melekoğlu ◽  
Erdi Sezgin ◽  
Ali Işın ◽  
Ayşen Türk

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a physically active lifestyle affects the health of former football players. Sixty former professional football players aged 40–50 years and who ended their sports career at least ten years ago were recruited for the study and grouped into two groups based on their physical activity habits after their retirement. Health and lifestyle characteristics were collected through a questionnaire to obtain information about recreational physical activity levels, diseases, family medical history, smoking, alcohol intake and dietary habits. Furthermore, lung functions, blood parameters and cardiovascular health were evaluated. Our results showed that body weight and body fat percentage were significantly higher in retired footballers who had a sedentary lifestyle compared to those who were physically active. The absolute and predicted values for forced expiratory volume in one-second values were higher in the active group. Twelve retired athletes were found to have intraventricular conduction delay. The findings suggest that former footballers who have higher levels of physical activity have advanced body composition, respiratory functions and serum lipids compared to former footballers with less active lifestyles. It is recommended that former elite athletes should maintain physically active lifestyles to sustain their health and reduce the risk of disease and disability in the later years of life.


2011 ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Thu Cu Nguyen

Tittle: study the impact of Zinc supplement on acute respiratory infection and diarrhea in children under 5 yrs at Huong ho commune, Huong tra district, Thua Thien Hue province. Background: diarhea and pneumonia are two common diseases in malnutrition children. The studies showed that zinc is a microsubstance to improve the immune capacicty of children. Many studies showed that malnutrition children gone with zinc deficiency. The study is aim to assess the impact of zinc supplement on malnutrition children with diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI). Population and study methods: Population: 129 malnutrition children under 5 yrs living at Huong ho commune, Huong tra district, Thua Thien Hue province. Study methods: intervene at community with control group. 2 groups of children have the similarity of age, sex, level of malnutrition, avarage weight. Study group: supplement with Zinc 10 mg/day x 30 days. Control group: no zinc supplement. Both groups were followed up about diarrhea and ARI every week in 6 months. Result: In 6 months, there was 24,6% of children in study group has the diseases while in control group was 43,7% (p<0,05). Avarage time of diarrhea per period in study group was shorter significantly than in control group (4,1±0,8 vs 6,0±1,4) (p<0,01). There was no diferrence in average diarrhea period, incidence of diarrhea between study group and control group. There still did not find out the difference in ARI period, incidence of ARI between study group and control group. Conclusion: Zinc supplement for malnutrition children is to reduce the general acquired rate of diarrhea and ARI, especially to reduce the time of diarrhea period. This study did not find out the improvement of acquired ARI in study group with zince supplement. Keywords: Malnutrition, zinc, diarrhea


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1117-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Sauter ◽  
Janina Curbach ◽  
Jana Rueter ◽  
Verena Lindacher ◽  
Julika Loss

Abstract Sen’s capability approach (CA) has found its way into health promotion over the last few years. The approach takes both individual factors as well as social and environmental conditions into account and therefore appears to have great potential to explore opportunities for (‘capabilities’) and barriers to active lifestyles. Thus, our objective in this study was to investigate which capabilities senior citizens perceive to have available to them in order to be physically active. In Southern Germany, we conducted 26 semi-standardized interviews with senior citizens aged 66–97, as well as 9 interviews with key persons who have close contact to senior citizens in their work life. We identified 11 capabilities which the interviewees considered as important in leading an active lifestyle. They could be grouped into four domains: (1) individual resources, (2) social interactions and norms, (3) living conditions and (4) organizational environment. Results highlight the need for health-promoting interventions that widen the range of capabilities on social and environmental levels in a way that individuals can freely choose to be as physically active as they like. The results make clear that interventions should not only target and involve older adults themselves, but also their families, nursing home staff or community representatives, because these groups are important in shaping older adults’ capabilities for an active lifestyle.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4354
Author(s):  
Teresa Valverde-Esteve ◽  
Oscar Chiva-Bartoll ◽  
Celina Salvador-García ◽  
María Maravé-Vivas

Background: active lifestyles and Physical Activity (PA) are closely related to health. Healthy habits such as being physically active should be consolidated during childhood. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) present fewer opportunities to be involved in PA. For this reason, we conducted a Service-Learning (SL) program to enhance the possibility of participating ASD children enjoying PA sessions. The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the evolution in terms of the frequency and intensity of PA performed by ASD children who participated in the SL program. Methods: we used a quasi-experimental design. The sample was formed by 26 children with ASD (Experimental group: n = 16; 4 girls, 12 boys) (Control group: n = 10; 1 girl, 9 boys) with ASD level 1. Results: after the intervention program, moderate PA during the week increased significantly (Pre-Median: 92.04, Range: 35.71–126.47 min; Post-Median: 212.67, Range: 99.75, 271.04 min) (p ≤ 0.001). When comparing both groups, the tendency to do PA in the Experimental group remained more stable. Also, the improvements in moderate intensities were higher in the Experimental group after the intervention. Conclusion: a six-month SL program improved the moderate PA routines of ASD children. However, longer programs and longitudinal studies are required.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 941-948
Author(s):  
K. A. Albargish ◽  
H. J. Hasony

The incidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection was assessed among 516 children under 5 years with acute respiratory infection and 57 control children free of respiratory infection to determine its relation to epidemiological variables. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 188 [37.6%]children with acute respiratory infection and in none of the control group. The infection was highest in those with severe acute respiratory infection, particularly severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia and it precipitated acute bronchial asthma in children over 2 years. The infection was most common in the first 6 months and both sexes were equally affected. Socioeconomic factors and crowding played no significant role in the incidence and spread of the infection. Breastfeeding had no clear protective effect against the infection


2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Panagiotopoulos ◽  
S Tsiodras ◽  
G Spala ◽  
I Kourbeti ◽  
E Triantafyllou ◽  
...  

On 9 April, headline news in a local newspaper in Crete reported the death of a previously healthy 45 year old woman in Heraklion. The death, which occurred on 5 April, was associated with myocarditis after upper respiratory tract infection. A second death (13 April) of a 48-year old woman from eastern Crete with similar symptoms was also headline news.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T1) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Velo Markovski

BACKGROUND: Over 500 viruses and bacteria primarily cause respiratory infections. During COVID-19 pandemic, these respiratory infections remain; i.e., COVID-19 has no ability to suppress these infections from the circulation. Therefore, it is very important to differentiate respiratory infections from COVID-19. Proving the presence of COVID-19 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is not evidence that the disease was caused by this virus. Possible options are: First, a random encounter of the virus in the patient’s upper respiratory tract; second, further possible colonization with a coronavirus (or with COVID-19); the third option is to have an infection; and the fourth possibility is to have a disease or COVID-19 upper respiratory infection. Unfortunately, the method with PCR, although it is with high sensitivity and specificity, does not help us to distinguish which of these four possibilities are in question. AIM: We aimed to present a guide to leading a patient with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection during a coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). RESULTS: A pandemic of COVID-19 shows that many patients get primary viral pneumonia, but people with normal immune system have no problem recovering. People with reduced immunity die from COVID-19, as opposed to the pandemic influenza virus. It is indirectly concluded that COVID-19 in itself is not very virulent, but it weakens the immunity of those infected who already have some condition and impaired immunity. The available scientific papers show that there is no strong cytokine response, patients have leukopenia and lymphopenia, some patients have a decrease in CD4 T-lymphocytes. From the results of the autopsies available so far, it is clear that there are very few inflammatory cells in the lungs and a lot of fluid domination. Hence, SARS-Cov-2 only somehow speeds up the decline in immunity. The previously published radiographic findings of COVID-19 patients, gave a characteristic findings of the presence of multifocal nodules, described as milky glass, very often localized in the periphery of the lung. Whether it is typical pneumonia, atypical, viral, mixed-type pneumonia, or mycotic pneumonia, it can progress to severe pneumonia. The pneumonia becomes severe when breathing is over 30/min; diastolic pressure below 60 mmHg; low partial oxygen pressure in the blood (PaO2/FiO2 <250 mmHg) (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa); massive pneumonia, bilateral or multilayered lung X-ray; desorientation; leukopenia; and increased urea. CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 placed in intensive care units should be led by a team of anesthesiologists with an infectious disease specialist or an anesthesiologist with a pulmonologist. Critical respiratory parameters should be peripheral oxygen saturation <90%, PaO2/FiO2 ratio 100 or <100, tachycardia above 110/min.  


2020 ◽  
pp. 109980042097769
Author(s):  
Mei-Chun Liu ◽  
Fan-Hao Chou

Acute respiratory infection is a major health issue and a primary cause of morbidity and mortality among preschool-aged children worldwide. Disease and hospitalization are chief stressors for children during their development. Therapeutic play has been used in pediatric care processes and has been demonstrated to be effective by most studies that have targeted children undergoing surgeries or invasive medical treatments. Currently, few published studies have focused on children receiving acute inpatient care. Additionally, not all types of therapeutic play produce significant results, and few studies have elaborated on the purposes, principles, and concrete measures of therapeutic play. Therefore, this study aimed to design therapeutic play that would reduce the stress responses of preschool-aged children hospitalized with acute respiratory infection. An experimental design with a pretest/posttest was conducted with 105 preschool children recruited from a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. The children in the experimental group received the therapeutic play, while those in the control group received routine nursing care. Children in the experimental group showed significantly greater reductions in their physiological, psychological, and behavioral stress responses than those in the control group. Future studies could apply therapeutic play to children from different age groups with diverse health issues before recommending it be used in pediatric health settings.


2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Panagiotopoulos ◽  
Y Tseleintis ◽  
A Gautrais ◽  
A Nicoll ◽  
E Hoile

Greek authorities have been investigating a seeming outbreak of acute respiratory infection followed by myocarditis and/or pericarditis. Three deaths in young and middle aged adults took place in April (the first on 5 April, two in Crete and one in Northern Greece). Following the second death, Greek authorities initiated intense surveillance nationwide with a case definition of myocarditis and/or pericarditis (diagnosed with a combination of clinical, laboratory investigations) preceded within ten days by upper respiratory tract infection.


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