Qigong and Covid-19

As things start to open up many more people are going to get sick, it’s unavoidable, but what can we do to help protect ourselves from serious complications? A researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is proposing as well as washing hands and disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently another key behavior that should be added to the list: exercise — and not just for its benefits to the lungs, immune system, and mood.

Zhen Yan, a professor of cardiovascular medicine who runs the molecular exercise physiology lab at UVA, showed that exercise boosts the production of an antioxidant known as “extracellular superoxide dismutase,” or EcSOD, which in turn, protects against acute lung disease and other diseases.

This antioxidant can protect against acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, which is deadly in 45% of cases. ARDS affects up to 85% of patients in the ICU affected by COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

He recommends at least 30 minutes each day to reap the benefits — if you haven’t been infected with COVID-19 yet. Those who are infected should try to move moderately, he said, since long-term bed rest can also exacerbate lung infection and cause other complications.

Both those affected and not affected could be helped with qigong. The Mayo Clinic states that Tai Chi and therefore the Science it comes from Qigong…

When learned correctly and performed regularly, tai chi can be a positive part of an overall approach to improving your health. The benefits of tai chi may include:

Decreased stress, anxiety and depression

Improved mood

Improved aerobic capacity

Increased energy and stamina

Improved flexibility, balance and agility

Improved muscle strength and definition

More research is needed to determine the health benefits of tai chi. Some evidence indicates that tai chi may also help:

Enhance quality of sleep

Enhance the immune system

Help lower blood pressure

Improve joint pain

Improve symptoms of congestive heart failure

Improve overall well-being

Reduce risk of falls in older adults