Body Heating and Viruses: A Thermophysiological Approach

This study introduces the Body Heating Theory (BHT)—a physiological model explaining how controlled thermogenesis produced through brief, vigorous muscular activity can suppress viral replication and enhance immune performance. Integrating concepts from fever physiology, exercise immunology, and viral kinetics, the paper reframes body heating as a measurable, self-regulated defense mechanism rather than a secondary symptom of infection. Most respiratory viruses replicate optimally at 33–36 °C, while immune efficiency peaks between 37–39 °C. Within this narrow overlap, even a 0.5–1 °C rise in core temperature can shift the competitive balance toward the host. Early muscular activation—initiated during the first 24–48 hours after exposure—accelerates immune modulation, increases lymphatic flow, and limits viral expansion by shortening one or more replication cycles. This effect parallels the natural benefits of fever but can be safely achieved through deliberate exercise-based thermogenesis. The theory introduces a “grace period” in which temperature elevation advances immune activation ahead of viral kinetics, providing a practical rationale for early intervention. Implementation through rhythmic resistance exercise, such as IsoTone sessions, demonstrates a portable, non-pharmaceutical method for maintaining immune readiness and mitigating common colds. By linking temperature, motion, and immunity into one coherent framework, BHT positions controlled thermogenesis as a foundational element of preventive medicine and a testable model for integrating physiology, behavior, and health.