In this 20-min. podcast, Appalachian State University’s Dr. Kurt Michael discusses suicide prevention during social distancing. He outlines the symptoms to watch for and how to reduce access to the lethal means often used in suicide. Michael is Appalachian’s Stanley R. Aeschleman Distinguished Professor of Psychology and also a practicing licensed psychologist.

An infectious disease immunologist, Dr. Michael Opata in Appalachian’s Department of Biology is interviewed about the history of infectious diseases and what past epidemics can inform us about COVID-19 and its prevention and treatment.

David Nieman, Dr.PH., health professor at Appalachian State University and director of the Human Performance Lab, answers questions about how cyclists can train safely during COVID-19.

Dr. Adam Hege of Appalachian State University’s public health program in the Beaver College of Health Sciences discusses the nationwide trend of health inspectors no longer having time to inspect restaurants offering take-out/delivery because of the time they’re spending on COVID-19 issues — and, what this means for consumers.

Appalachian’s Dr. David Nieman, whose more than 30 years of research show that daily physical activity increases the circulation of immune cells throughout the body which can better detect and destroy invading viruses, recommends physical activity for keeping your immune system in good shape during the pandemic. Just don’t exercise in groups.

Drs. Cathy Marcum and Phillip Ardoin in Appalachian’s Department of Government and Justice Studies are interviewed in response to Randolph County Sheriff's decision to increase patrols during stay-at-home orders related to COVID-19. Marcum calls the move proactive, while Ardoin says most citizens and government leaders recognize the health crisis and the steps needed to reduce spread of the coronavirus.

Staying fit and healthy improves the immune system’s capacity to detect and destroy viruses, says David Nieman, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Appalachian State University.

This blog features Dr. David Nieman’s career researching exercise and the immune system, including data that shows physically active people have a 40-50% reduction in the number of days they are sick with acute respiratory infections. The blog further notes that “a good rule of thumb is to limit sustained exercise (greater than 60% effort, which means 60% of your max heart rate) to no more than 60 minutes at a time.”

In this Q&A, Appalachian State University’s Dr. David Nieman answers whether people should work out when sick. In short, no — “sick people wrongly think they can ‘exercise the virus out of the system’ or ‘sweat it out,’ that’s a myth. It’s actually the opposite,” he says. Nieman is a health professor and director of the Human Performance Lab.