During physical activity, your body relies on several tissues to provide oxygen. Your respiratory tract and lungs draw oxygen into your body so the oxygen can dissolve in your blood while your cardiovascular system circulates that oxygen throughout your body. Your body's ability to use oxygen depends on several factors, including your lifestyle and the presence of an infection or disease. Both running and a respiratory infection can affect your VO2 max, which is the measure of how your body uses oxygen.
What It Is
VO2 max is your maximal oxygen uptake, and reflects your overall fitness and cardiovascular health. During your workouts, your heart pumps blood throughout your body at an increased rate so your tissues have access to the oxygen they need to perform. The ability to circulate and transport large amounts of oxygen indicates a high VO2 max, whereas poor circulation and oxygen update leads to a low VO2 max. The health of your heart, lungs and blood vessels all contribute to your body's ability to take up and use oxygen, helping to determine your VO2 max.
Effect of Running
Performing physical activity such as running helps your body better use oxygen, and running regularly might increase your VO2 max. Because it's a form of cardiovascular exercise, running can increase your heart's ability to effectively pump blood throughout your body so your tissues have access to more oxygen during exercise. Running workouts three or four times per week -- particularly workouts ranging from 35 to 45 minutes -- increase your VO2 max over time, according to a webpage on the University of Washington website.
Effect of Respiratory Infections
A respiratory infection might, directly or indirectly, affect your VO2 max. Because lung function plays a role in oxygen use, a respiratory infection that hinders lung function can reduce your body's ability to effectively use oxygen. Respiratory infections might also affect your VO2 max if they interfere with your ability to work out. A study published in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" in 2000 found that upper respiratory infections decreased elderly patients' energy expenditure during workouts. If a respiratory infection prevents you from performing running workouts for long periods, it could decrease your VO2 max.
Considerations
If you suffer from a respiratory infection, consult a doctor before you try physical activity. Ignoring the symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, nasal congestion or a fever, allows the infection to worsen, and might prolong your recovery time. During your appointment, talk to your doctor about how the infection might affect your running schedule and how best to minimize any negative effect on your VO2 max while still allowing your body to recover from the infection.
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