Sports are healthy, but those who overdo it are not doing their bodies any good. For example, many studies show that professional athletes are more often ill because their immune system does not cope well with continuous training. This phenomenon can be observed regardless of the type of sport practiced: Great exertion and exhaustion make the body more susceptible to attacks by viruses and bacteria. This effect can last up to ten days.
Nevertheless, sports physicians agree that the health benefits of sport outweigh the risks many times over. Millions of people of all ages play sports. Every day, sports give them a sense of belonging, create social communication, increase physical well-being and help strengthen, restore and maintain health.
4 smart tips for newcomers to sports
Any athlete can minimize the risk of suffering an injury during training by following a few simple rules.
- First and foremost, this includes a health checkup before playing sports. This is especially important for sports beginners and those returning to the sport over the age of 40. The doctor should also be asked for advice in the event of existing illnesses, disabilities or current complaints. This applies especially to people with high risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, elevated blood lipids, heart disease, vascular or seizure disorders. Those who regularly take medicines should discuss the intake times on sports days with their family doctor or pharmacist.
- It is important for every beginner to start slowly with the sport and not immediately go full throttle. It is best to start under guidance in a club or gym. And then it is called to stay on the ball, so if possible at least twice a week to pursue the favorite sport. Sport should be strenuous, but not overstraining. After sports, you should be exhausted, but not totally exhausted. It is better to train longer and with pleasure than short and overhard. In sports, it is important to take breaks from training and then there should be enough time for rest.
- Anyone who is sick or even has a fever, should take a break from sports for a while and let the disease heal completely. If an infection is not cured, it can come to a spread of viruses or bacteria from the blood to the heart muscle. An injury should also be given a sufficient break from training so as not to jeopardize healing.
- Many athletes attach too little importance to a sportswear adapted to the sport. This must be less top fashion, but functional: In winter warming and yet breathable as well as windproof, in summer should be worn in addition to light clothing also a headgear against blazing sun. Who likes to run in the woods or on meadows, bends tick bites with a long sports pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
