Link Between Exercise and COVID-19
Posted by Dr. Robert Portman on 4/30/2020 to
Performance Tip Of The Week
There is much that we don’t understand about the COVID-19 virus. What we do know, however, is the high death percentage associated with this virus is the result of a hyper response of the immune system. Immunologists call it a “cytokine storm”. Cytokines are proteins released by immune cells that modulate the immune response. There are two types of cytokines, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory ones. When our body is exposed to a foreign invader such as COVID-19, cytokines are activated to neutralize and immobilize the invader.
CBD & COVID-19
Posted by Dr. Robert Portman on 4/20/2020 to
Performance Tip Of The Week
CBD is touted as the "miracle supplement" curing everything from arthritis to cancer. It was only a matter of time before unscrupulous marketers began promoting CBD as a cure for COVID-19. Their rationale for this unsupported claim is that CBD is a strong antioxidant and there is evidence that it can reduce inflammation, a factor which plays a primary role in the severity of COVID-19 infection. The major problem with this irresponsible advertising claim is there is not a shred of evidence that CBD offers any benefit in the treatment of COVID-19. And there is the danger that individuals who develop symptoms of COVID-19 may rely on CBD rather than seeking medical help.
High Stress and COVID-19
Posted by Dr. Robert Portman on 4/1/2020 to
Performance Tip Of The Week
Previous Performance Tips have focused on factors that impact immune response and immune health. We like to think that our immune response is an independent defense system that seeks out and destroys foreign invaders. That is not the case. Our immune response is significantly affected by health and mood factors such as high stress. Acute stress can help athletes perform better, however, chronic stress plays havoc with our overall health and our immune response. Individuals with elevated, sustained levels of stress have a diminished immune response and are more prone to upper respiratory infections.