This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States. Designed to help readers understand and evaluate the relationship between exercise, immune function and infection risk, this book presents evidence for the "J-shaped" relationship between exercise load and infection risk. It also describes the components of the human immune system and key functions that protect the body from disease, the impact of acute and chronic psychological stress on immune function, and practical guidelines for minimizing the risk of immunodepression and infection in athletes. Further chapters explore different ways of measuring immune function, as well as the effects of heavy training on innate and specific (acquired) immunity, exercise in environmental extremes, and nutrition. Connections between exercise, infection risk, and immune function in special populations (elderly, obese, diabetic and HIV patients) are also addressed.
Indice testuale
Preface 1. Exercise and infection risk 2. Introduction to the immune system 3. Methods of assessing immune function 4. Acute exercise and innate immune function 5. Acute exercise and acquired immune function 6. Immune responses to intensified training and overtraining 7. Immune response to exercise in extreme environments 8. Exercise, nutrition and immune function: I Macronutrients and amino acids 9. Exercise, nutrition and immune function: II Micronutrients, antioxidants and other supplements 10. Exercise and cytokines 11. Psychological stress and immune function 12. Monitoring immune function in athletes and guidelines for minimizing the risk of infection 13. Exercise, infection risk and immune function in special populations Glossary
