All-around athletes who overdo their training programmes are more susceptible to illness, experts say.
The phenomenon is widespread among world-class athletes although fundamentally they are better protected because they train their immune systems. However, they can strain their overall condition because they have to push themselves to their physical limit.
“And that weakens the immune system, giving pathogens an easy time,” said Professor Ingo Froboese at the Centre for Health at the German Sports High School in Cologne.
When an individual trains moderately and reasonably, the hormone adrenalin helps support an activation of the immune system from the first hour of activity. Over time the immune system gets even stronger.
“More antibodies develop and their ability to defend the individual is qualitatively improved,” said Froboese.
However, if workouts are too strenuous, the entire body can be affected and the stress hormone cortisol is increasingly secreted, weakening the immune system.
“Especially after a hard training programme, the immune system reduces its activity and an ‘open window phenomenon’ occurs,” said Froboese.
The window is wide open to all pathogens and this can last for hours or even days. Froboese advises athletes to take a sensible approach to training and remember to keep it within the proper limits.
