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.

App State Athletics Director Doug Gillin talks about his major concerns: keeping everyone associated within Mountaineers athletics safe during the novel coronavirus outbreak and making sure student-athletes are able to continue classwork from wherever they are after extended spring break ends.

On The State of Things podcast, Dr. Dominique Hammonds is interviewed about the mental health effects of the coronavirus outbreak. She is an assistant professor in the Department of human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University and has a private practice in Hickory.

Appalachian State University has selected names for the four new residence halls being constructed near Kidd Brewer Stadium. Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Matt Dull explains who named them and why.

Dr. Jamie Russell of Appalachian State University’s Energy Center gives context regarding the U.S.’s reduction of carbon emissions in this fact-checking column published by The Poynter Institute.

Appalachian State University and East Carolina University are among nine organizations receiving funds as part of the company’s investment. Both universities will use their allotment to support scholarships awarded to community college transfer students who wish to teach in their home communities.

A medical geographer, Appalachian State University’s Dr. Maggie Sugg discusses climate change’s impact on human health. She is joined by Jennifer Runkle, an environmental epidemiologist with the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies.