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Vigorous exercise can cut flu risk

Doing vigorous exercise for at least 2.5 hours per week can reduce the risk of flu.


Doing at least two and a half hours of vigorous exercise each week cuts the chance of developing flu, new data suggests.

A survey carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK, analysed data from 4,800 people.

The survey has been carried out for the last five years and is designed to track as much detail as possible about who does and does not get flu. Participants are asked a range of questions including their age, whether they have been vaccinated and how many hours of “vigorous exercise” they do each week, such as running, fast cycling or competitive sports, ranging from none to more than five hours.

The researchers say their findings suggest 100 cases of flu per 1,000 people could be prevented just by engaging in vigorous exercise. The researchers found that moderate exercise did not appear to have a protective effect

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