It’s safe to say all of us here at the Green River Games and our broader community in general feel like a storm is upon us. With the reality of the Covid – 19 virus and the pandemic, it has caused, we get the sense winter is here and it is time to hunker down and hibernate. Schools are closing, events canceling, travel is being limited. Hell, even March Madness isn’t happening this year!
Yet in spite of all this spring is only one week away and we are all getting the itch, especially the outdoor sports community, to go outside and play. While modern medicine offers little advice other than washing your hands and social distancing to combat this new virus we came across some interesting material that shows our natural instincts to get outside may be the best thing for us.
This is not the first nor will it be the last pandemic the world has been through. 100 years ago, long before antibiotics and modern medicine one of the worst pandemics in human history, the ‘Spanish Flu’ or ‘1918 Flu’ killed more than 20 million people worldwide. Healthcare professionals at the time were desperate to do whatever they could to help the sick. It turns out one of the most promising remedies of the time turned out to be something called ‘Open Air Therapy’. Essentially people started to study the effect of sunlight and fresh air on our health and the results were incredibly positive. During that horrible outbreak, a hospital in Massachusetts started putting patients in open-air tents instead of hospital rooms, and when the weather was nice they put them outside in the sunlight. The combination of fresh air and sunlight reduced the mortality rate from 40% to 13%, according to one study. Just by being outside.
There is so much we don’t know about this new virus and certainly don’t take anything in this article as medical advice. We’re bikers, kayakers, and runners NOT doctors, but during this crazy time, we feel it’s important to note that going outside and getting some exercise could be more important than ever. Below we’ve compiled some of the more pertinent research we found that is always relevant, but especially so today. As the saying goes ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ and maybe going out in the woods for a ride or a jog is the best way to do that right now.
1. Sunlight Kills Viruses
Viruses and bacteria have a harder time living in the sunlight. You’ve heard the folklore that moss only grows on the north side of trees right? This isn’t always the case, but bacteria and mold do only grow where there is minimal sunlight. Sun exposure has a germicidal effect. Sunlight also kills bacteria that can cause lung and other infections.
2. Fresh Air is a Natural Disinfectant
In the 1960s the UK’s Ministry of Defense scientists proved that fresh air is a natural disinfectant. It turns out the Open Air Factor is far more harmful to airborne bacteria – and the influenza virus – than indoor air. This is true both at night and during the day. As well, this is also true if a room has cross ventilation. ‘The efficacy of open air treatment has been absolutely proven, and one has only to try it to discover its value.’ – Surgeon General of the Massachusetts State Guard
3. Sunlight Causes Your Body To Produce Vitamin D
Vitamin D is vital in helping our immune system stay balanced and 90% of our Vitamin D comes from the sun. Low levels of Vitamin D can compromise the immune system and reduce our body’s ability to resist infections. Low vitamin D levels are linked to respiratory infections and can make us more susceptible to influenza. As well, Vitamin D and sunlight help keep our circadian rhythm balanced. Our circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in many biological processes, such as the sleep-wake cycle, hormone secretion, cardiovascular health, glucose homeostasis, and body temperature regulation. Energy balance is also one of the most important cornerstones of metabolic processes, whereas energy imbalance is associated with many diseases (i.e., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease).
4. Exercise Improves the Immune System
Exercise is proven to improve the immune system by increasing the white blood cells in our body. In short, better fitness equates to a stronger immune system (the body’s defense system).
One unproven theory as to why exercise helps us fight off sickness is that through the huffing and puffing, we’re flushing bacteria out of our lungs and airways, which lowers the chances of it taking hold.
Another unproven theory is an increase in body temperature, before and after exercise, may prevent infections from growing.
Stay well everyone and we’ll see you in the mountains. – GRG Director, John Grace