Immunosurveillance associated with upper respiratory symptoms in elite swimmers: 8-month period leading into Commonwealth Games

Abstract

Most research suggests that a greater degree of immune suppression and subsequent increased illness risk occurs during winter and the heaviest training periods. Monitoring an individual’s change in salivary Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) throughout a training programme, could help identify athletes at risk of illness; promoting the use of individual athlete monitoring. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) has been identified as one of the most likely causes of illness symptoms (Reid et al., 2004). An association has been found between short sleep duration (< 7 hours) and increased number of illnesses, including cold and flu (Orzech et al., 2014). These findings are empirical because athletes do not obtain enough sleep, regularly sleeping less than the NR of 7-9hours of sleep per night.