Physical activity can provide immunity — and more health headlines

Medical Watch Digest for Oct 8.

Exercise boots immunity

Physical activity can provide immunity.

We know exercise strengthens muscles including the lungs and heart, but a new study shows it boosts the immune system.

Older adults who engaged in endurance training including swimming, biking, running and even walking had more natural defense cells than those who did not exercise.

They had less inflammation and better protection against viruses.

The study is in the Journal Scientific Reports.

Researchers measured increased white blood cells in older exercise enthusiasts.

The natural killer cells help destroy infected and diseased cells including cancer cells.

C-Section Late in Labor More Likely To Scar Uterus

A last-minute c-section could put future pregnancies at risk.

Women who have caesarean births at an advanced stage of labor are eight times more likely to develop scars in the uterus.

Womb scarring is a known risk factor for premature births in future pregnancies.

University College London researchers found as labor progresses, and the baby moves further down the womb a c-section cut is made lower.

When an internal scar is so close to the cervix, it doesn’t heal as well as higher cuts presenting a risk to future pregnancies.

Researchers say more study is needed to advance surgical techniques to reduce the risk and improve caesarian scar healing.

Breastfeeding boosts baby’s immunity

Breastfeeding boosts immunity in babies, and figuring out how, could improve the health of all infants.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute scientists working with northwestern university doctors, discovered how specific nutrients in breast milk impact a child’s ability to fight disease.

Babies breastfed for six months have fewer infections and less chronic inflammation which translates to reduced rates of allergies, diabetes and asthma.

Breastfed babies have certain lipids not present in infant formula.

The finding paves the way for improving nutrition and immunity in babies who do not get breastmilk.