Too Much Running Linked to Shorter Lifespan
Running is one of the most effective and fun forms of exercise and has been tied to a wide range of health benefits, including weight control, better blood pressure and lower cholesterol. But just like all the good things, too much running does have undesirable effects too – according to a new study.
A number of studies suggest that ‘moderate’ running, or a total of 2-3 hours a week, appears best for longevity, refuting the typical "more is better" mantra for physical activity.
The new study, which was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Washington, suggest that people who don’t exercise as well as those who get too much of it tend to have shorter lifespans than moderate runners. But according to the researchers, the reasons why remain unclear.
The research team, headed by Dr Martin Matsumura, co-director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Lehigh Valley Health Network, evaluated data from more than 3,800 men and women runners, with an average age of 46. They were involved in the Masters Running Study, a web-based study of training and health information on runners aged 35 and above. Nearly 70 percent reported running more than 20 miles a week.
Participants supplied information on their use of common painkillers called NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen/Aleve), which have been linked with heart problems, as well as aspirin, known to be heart-protective. The runners also reported on known heart risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, family history of heart disease and smoking history.
“Even though the heart disease risk factors couldn’t explain the shorter longevity of high-mileage runners, there do seem to be potentially life-shortening ill effects from that amount of running” said Dr James O’Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at the Mid-American Heart Institute in Kansas City who reviewed the study findings. He believes there might be "too much wear and tear" on the bodies of high-mileage runners.
According to Dr O’Keeffe, the "sweet spot" for jogging for health benefits is a slow to moderate pace, about two or three times per week, for a total of one to 2.5 hours. "If you want to run a marathon," he said, "run one and cross it off your bucket list." But as a general rule, O’Keefe advises runners to avoid strenuous exercise for more than an hour at a time.
Source of this article:
Too Much Running Tied to Shorter Lifespan, Studies Find
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