A new study shows that athletes aren’t guaranteed to get a mild COVID-19 case just because they’re healthy and have good lungs. Their improved breathing abilities might put them at risk of developing a more severe case after being infected with the novel coronavirus.
The novel coronavirus made us adjust to a new life, one that’s governed by two words: Social distancing. Because the virus is highly contagious, gatherings of any kind are prohibited in most places, as are non-essential jobs. That’s why sporting events were canceled or postponed, including major competitions such as this year’s Summer Olympic Games and Euro 2020. Once restrictions are eased, we might return to some version of the life we knew, but social distancing measures will remain in place for months to come, at the very least.
When sports do come back, they might not allow spectators. It turns out that athletes who have been working on increasing their capacity for effort for years might be at greater risk of developing COVID-19 complications because of the way they breathe, which can apparently be a risk factor for the disease, according to a new study.
Researchers from Germany and Italy have been investigating how the disease affects athletes, and it turns out that being in excellent physical condition and having great overall health doesn’t guarantee a mild case. If anything, athletes and their trained lungs are more likely to inhale virus particles and direct them to the lower areas of the lung, the research says.
The study was produced by researchers from Berlin, Rome, and Verona, and is available in pre-print, pre-review version at this link, via Reuters.
