If you exercise regularly, you may have a better chance at not developing more severe COVID-19 symptoms if you contract the disease. According to one expert with OSF HealthCare, exercise plays a major factor in our immune response, not only in the COVID virus but all viruses and bacteria and other diseases that you are more prone to if you aren’t moving and develop obesity.

Regular exercise helps improve immune function and lung capacity, as well as cardiovascular and muscle function. Kathleen Meade, Family Nurse Practitioner with OSF HealthCare says the lungs and heart are two major organs that have been greatly impacted by COVID.

The study published recently by the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that compared to people who exercise between 11 and 149 minutes a week, inactive people were 120 % more likely to be hospitalized and 110% more likely to need critical care admission. You should always check with your physician before starting any type of exercise program.