Physical activity is a necessary condition for good health. But professional sports and immunity, and all other vital organ systems are constantly tested for strength.
The effect of sports on the body
Sport is considered as an activator of nonspecific immunity, if the loads are not excessive for a person. Moderate physical activity has a positive effect on the functional state of the respiratory system, peripheral circulation, mucous membranes of the respiratory system.
Positive changes extend to the local immunity of the mucous epithelium of the respiratory tract. The ability of the ciliated epithelium to self-purify, to remove mucous secretions from the bronchi improves.
Active beating of the cilia of the epithelium of the bronchi, expelling mucus, makes it difficult for the mechanical penetration of the infection into the respiratory tract.
Local cellular, humoral immunity can be increased with the help of moderate sports in people of all age categories, even with diseases such as asthma, obstructive bronchitis.
An increase in blood circulation, an increase in pulse pressure with adequate physical activity activates NK cells, increases the number of macrophages responsible for nonspecific immunity. The probability of getting a respiratory infection with systematic moderate sports is reduced by 46%.
The positive aspects of the influence of sports on the body include an increase and improvement in the speed of blood flow, lymphatic drainage, which accelerates the speed of immune reactions.
The reaction of the body to the load, allergy
Sport has a specific effect on the body, causes changes that are common to athletes. Lifestyle, a large number of contacts, frequent travel increases the risk of infectious respiratory diseases, provokes a decrease in immunity under the influence of psycho-emotional, physical overload, especially during the competitive period.
Compared to the training period, during the competition, the level of antibodies in the blood decreases significantly, on average:
IgA – from 1.79 to 1 mg / ml;
IgG – from 12.86 to 4.35 mg / ml;
IgM – from 1.78 to 0.72 mg / ml.
Changes affect all links of cellular and humoral immunity. Violations are caused by a high need of the system for amino acids, which, with intensive muscle work is actively expended.
The activity of the heart muscle, skeletal muscles, immune system, increased need for energy and amino acids leads to a decrease in the synthesis of immunoglobulins, a temporary decrease in the body’s resistance to respiratory infection.
Changes in the reactivity of the immune system in response to intense physical activity can lead to allergic and autoimmune diseases.
Sports can cause physical allergies, which manifest themselves:
urticaria – cold, cholinergic, solar, water;
allergic dermographism;
anaphylactic shock.
By taking medications, adapting the load to the capabilities of the body, it is possible to cope with physical allergies, increase the athlete’s immunity.
Physical urticaria appear under the influence of cold, solar radiation, when the skin comes into contact with water. Allergy manifestations are blisters, rashes of urticaria on the face, upper and lower extremities, and the oral cavity.
The most severe type of allergy that occurs under the influence of physical exertion is anaphylactic shock. If signs of anaphylaxis appear, exercise should be stopped.
Signs of anaphylactic shock during sports are:
redness with a feeling of heat;
skin itching;
the appearance of urticaria with blisters reaching a diameter of 1.5 cm.
The mechanism of the influence of sports on immunity
Changes in the immune system depend on the general reaction of the body to sports, as well as on the level of exercise.
Immediately after playing sports, it is noted:
increase in the content of leukocytes in the blood;
strengthening of nonspecific immunity – an increase in the number of neutrophils, NK cells, monocytes;
insignificant in comparison with leukocytes, but an increase in the number of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.
If sports activities exceed the capabilities of the body, the number of cytotoxic lymphocytes and T-helpers increases in the blood. These subpopulations of lymphocytes responsible for specific immunity produce cytokines, the ratio of which determines the direction of the immune response after exercise.
A few hours after training, all indicators of specific and nonspecific immunity are normalized. But the influence of muscle activity on the immune system remains, manifesting itself as an indirect effect. on the hormonal system, heart, homeostasis system.
Causes of reduced immunity
The state of immunity is influenced by the nutrition of the athlete.
Irrational nutrition, lack of minerals, vitamins, amino acids necessary for the construction of immunoglobulins, depress immunity, make the athlete defenseless against infection, autoimmune diseases, and cancer cells.
A high load is accompanied by the release of stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline, as well as changes that suppress the activity of the immune system, cause an increase in blood pressure, an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood.
When signs of overtraining appear, you need to reconsider the frequency of sports, change the training schedule to give the immune system a chance to recover.