Scientists have learned about the reduced benefits of exercise due to air pollution

A new study by an international team of scientists has shown that long-term exposure to toxic air can significantly weaken the positive effects of exercise on health. This was reported on November 27 by Medical Xpress magazine.

"Our study shows that toxic air can block the benefits of exercise to some extent, although it does not completely eliminate it. The results of the study are further evidence of the harm that fine—grained pollution can cause to our health," said Andrew Staptow, co-author of the study and professor of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health at the University of California, London.

The study analyzed data from more than 1.5 million adults who have been followed for more than 10 years in countries such as the United Kingdom, Taiwan, China, Denmark and the United States. Scientists found that protection from mortality from any cause, including cardiovascular diseases, was significantly reduced for those who lived in areas with high levels of air pollution. However, the protection has not been completely eliminated.

According to the study, people who exercised 2.5 hours a week had a 30% lower risk of death compared to those who did not meet this activity level. However, for those who lived in areas with high air pollution, the risk reduction was half as much — 12-15%. With increased levels of pollution, the benefits of exercise weakened even more.

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"We don't want to discourage people from doing outdoor sports. Checking the air quality, choosing cleaner routes, and reducing the intensity on days with polluted air will help you maximize the health benefits of exercise," said study co—author Professor Paola Zaninnotto.

The authors emphasized that the study was mainly conducted in high-income countries, so the results may not apply to low-income countries where air pollution is significantly higher. Other limitations included the lack of data on indoor air quality and participants' diets.

Earlier, on November 7, Medical Xpress talked about the causes of fatigue during morning workouts. According to the publication, the body is not ready for exercise immediately after waking up. At the same time, it was clarified that a morning workout can be more effective than an evening workout if a person does not get enough sleep.

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