Light physical activity may reduce the risk of some bacterial infections, according to a new study published in the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
For the study, researchers analyzed information on leisure-time physical activity from more 18,000 survey respondents taken from the 2007 and 2010 North Denmark Region Health Surveys. Researchers linked survey responses to patient data accessed from nationwide administrative registries. Infections were determined by filled antibiotic prescriptions.
Researchers found low-level physical activity to be associated with a 10 percent reduction in risk for bacterial infections overall.
"Further, low and moderate levels of physical activity were associated with the statistically significant reduction of suspected cystitis [bacterial urinary tract infections]," wrote the authors. "No reduction in suspected respiratory tract infections was statistically significant and associated with physical activity compared with sedentary behavior."
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