The Impact of Smoking and Exercise on Your Risk of Catching the Common Cold

Impact of Lifestyle on Common Cold Risk

Introduction

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for overall well-being, with key components including regular physical activity and avoiding smoking. Researchers in China sought to understand how exercise levels and smoking habits—both active and passive—affect the likelihood of contracting the common cold.

Previous Findings

Prior studies have linked physical activity and smoking to the severity and duration of cold symptoms. However, limited research has been conducted on the relationship between leisure-time exercise frequency, smoking habits, and the common cold in colder climates.

Study Overview

In Jilin Province, Northeastern China, researchers carried out a cross-sectional study involving individuals who underwent routine health examinations. The study aimed to gather data on the frequency of common cold occurrences, leisure-time exercise, and smoking status among participants.

Participants and Data Collection

Data was collected from 1,413 employees, aged between 38 and 90 years, of which 44% were male. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their health over the previous year.

Research Analysis

Published in BMC Public Health, the analysis focused on the relationship between leisure-time exercise frequency, smoking status, and the incidence of the common cold. The findings revealed that 80% of participants reported having experienced the common cold within the past year.

Findings on Smoking and Cold Incidence

The study indicated that passive smokers—individuals who do not smoke but are exposed to significant secondhand smoke—had a 1.59% higher incidence of the common cold compared to non-smokers. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between current smokers and the common cold.

Impact of Leisure-Time Exercise

Participants who engaged in high-frequency leisure-time exercise (three days or more per week) demonstrated a 26% reduced risk of catching the common cold compared to those who exercised less than four days a month.

Conclusion

The researchers noted that while the protective effect of regular exercise may not be immediately apparent, it seems to benefit both passive and active smokers. The study confirmed that passive smokers are at a heightened risk for the common cold, while those who maintain a high level of leisure-time exercise reported experiencing fewer cold episodes.

Author and Reference

Written by Dr. MòNique J. Grant Coke, DNP, MPH, BSN, Medical Writer.
Reference: Zhou, G., Liu, H., He, M., Yue, M., Gong, P., Wu, F., Li, X., Pang, Y., Yang, X., Ma, J., Liu, M., Li, J., & Zhang, X. (2018). Smoking, leisure-time exercise and frequency of self-reported common cold among the general population in northeastern China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 18:294. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5203-5